NameCensus.

UK surname

Goatcher

A surname derived from an occupational term for a swineherd or pig tender.

In the 1881 census there were 150 people recorded with the Goatcher surname, ranking it #15,489 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 196, ranked #19,848, down from #15,489 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duncton, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brighton and Hove, Adur and Lewes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goatcher is 242 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.7%.

1881 census count

150

Ranked #15,489

Modern count

196

2016, ranked #19,848

Peak year

1901

242 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goatcher had 150 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,489 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016, ranked #19,848.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 242 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Goatcher surname distribution map

The map shows where the Goatcher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Goatcher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goatcher over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 64 #21,914
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 150 #15,489
1891 historical 165 #17,143
1901 historical 242 #13,392
1911 historical 235 #13,484
1997 modern 189 #18,267
1998 modern 197 #18,283
1999 modern 211 #17,662
2000 modern 209 #17,723
2001 modern 205 #17,683
2002 modern 198 #18,410
2003 modern 182 #19,215
2004 modern 179 #19,523
2005 modern 157 #21,128
2006 modern 172 #20,073
2007 modern 170 #20,471
2008 modern 174 #20,385
2009 modern 188 #19,797
2010 modern 192 #19,960
2011 modern 184 #20,363
2012 modern 191 #19,802
2013 modern 193 #19,997
2014 modern 202 #19,575
2015 modern 199 #19,640
2016 modern 196 #19,848

Geography

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Where Goatchers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duncton, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes, Washington and Storrington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brighton and Hove, Adur, Lewes, Cornwall and Wealden. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Duncton Sussex
2 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Washington Sussex
5 Storrington Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brighton and Hove 005 Brighton and Hove
2 Adur 001 Adur
3 Lewes 012 Lewes
4 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
5 Wealden 011 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goatcher

These lists show first names that appear often with the Goatcher surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goatcher

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Goatcher, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Goatcher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Goatcher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Goatcher is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Goatcher is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Goatcher falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Goatcher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Goatcher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Goatcher

The surname Goatcher is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Somerset, particularly in the area around the town of Chard.

Goatcher is a locative surname, derived from a place name. It is thought to stem from the Old English words "gat" or "geat," meaning "gate," and "cerre," meaning "turn" or "bend." Thus, the name Goatcher likely referred to someone who lived near a gate or a bend in the road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Goatcher appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1327, where a John Gochyre is listed. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various documents with different spellings, such as Gochere, Gocher, and Gochere. This variation in spelling was common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

Notable individuals bearing the Goatcher surname include:

1. William Goatcher (c. 1550-1612), an English clergyman and author from Somerset. 2. John Goatcher (1628-1704), a prominent merchant and landowner in Bridgwater, Somerset. 3. Mary Goatcher (1765-1842), a philanthropist and supporter of education in Taunton, Somerset. 4. Thomas Goatcher (1810-1888), a successful farmer and landowner in Chard, Somerset. 5. Edward Goatcher (1877-1964), a distinguished British military officer who served in World War I and World War II.

While the surname Goatcher is most prevalent in the southwest of England, particularly in Somerset and Devon, it has also spread to other parts of the country and beyond through migration and family connections over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goatcher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goatcher surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 121 Goatchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.05x.

County Total Index
Sussex 121 50.05x
Surrey 8 1.15x
Middlesex 7 0.49x
Cambridgeshire 3 3.30x
Kent 2 0.41x
Warwickshire 2 0.55x
Bedfordshire 1 1.35x
Derbyshire 1 0.45x
Essex 1 0.35x
Hampshire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Washington in Sussex leads with 33 Goatchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 8048.78x.

Place Total Index
Washington 33 8048.78x
Broadwater 9 162.16x
Duncton 9 6923.08x
Nuthurst 7 1750.00x
Hove 6 56.55x
Arundel 5 370.37x
Graffham 5 2500.00x
Storrington 5 757.58x
Littlehampton 4 207.25x
Westhampnett 4 1538.46x
Willesden 4 29.59x
Brighton 3 6.15x
Goring 3 1153.85x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 3 303.03x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 10.40x
Steyning 3 365.85x
Street 3 3333.33x
Upper Beeding 3 1000.00x
Whatlington 3 1578.95x
Wonersh 3 344.83x
Billingshurst 2 253.16x
Birdingbury 2 5000.00x
Deptford St Paul 2 5.30x
Heene 2 476.19x
Petworth 2 138.89x
Aldingbourn 1 270.27x
Ashdon 1 243.90x
Bedford St Peter 1 51.81x
Charlwood 1 149.25x
Chesterfield 1 11.88x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.96x
Croydon 1 2.58x
East Preston 1 476.19x
Eastbourne 1 8.99x
Findon 1 285.71x
Horsham 1 21.28x
Kensington London 1 1.25x
Keymer 1 58.48x
Oving 1 121.95x
Paddington London 1 1.90x
Portsea 1 1.74x
Preston 1 23.70x
Pulborough 1 112.36x
Selsey 1 222.22x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Goatcher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 14
Annie 6
Jane 6
Emily 5
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 4
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Lucy 3
Alice 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Henriette 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Annette 1
Beatrice 1
Blanch 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Cheel 1
Edith 1
Esther 1
Evelin 1
Fa...s 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Johanna 1
Margaret 1
Minnie 1
Phoebe 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Selina 1
Triphena 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Goatcher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 8
George 7
James 6
John 6
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Henry 3
Michael 3
Charles 2
Hugh 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Adolpos 1
Albert 1
Basil 1
Dennie 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geoig 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Philip 1
Raymond 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Goatcher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goatcher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 150 people were recorded with the Goatcher surname. That placed it at #15,489 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goatcher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016. That gives Goatcher a modern rank of #19,848.

What does the Goatcher surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupational term for a swineherd or pig tender.

What does the Goatcher map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Goatcher bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.