NameCensus.

UK surname

Ketcher

A surname originating from an occupational name for a maker of ketches or hunting nets.

In the 1881 census there were 126 people recorded with the Ketcher surname, ranking it #17,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 142, ranked #24,625, down from #17,245 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newchurch, London parishes and Wonersh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bracknell Forest, Tandridge and Warwick.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ketcher is 262 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.7%.

1881 census count

126

Ranked #17,245

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

1891

262 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ketcher had 126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,245 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 262 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ketcher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ketcher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ketcher 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 183 #12,903
1881 historical 126 #17,245
1891 historical 262 #12,297
1901 historical 165 #17,085
1911 historical 212 #14,423
1997 modern 157 #20,513
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 166 #20,458
2000 modern 173 #19,889
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 167 #20,457
2003 modern 159 #20,881
2004 modern 155 #21,352
2005 modern 149 #21,866
2006 modern 138 #23,156
2007 modern 145 #22,693
2008 modern 145 #22,929
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 148 #23,697
2011 modern 144 #23,962
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 145 #24,207
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Ketchers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newchurch, London parishes, Wonersh and Kettering. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bracknell Forest, Tandridge, Warwick and North Warwickshire. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Wonersh Surrey
4 Kettering Northamptonshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bracknell Forest 006 Bracknell Forest
2 Tandridge 005 Tandridge
3 Warwick 011 Warwick
4 Tandridge 004 Tandridge
5 North Warwickshire 003 North Warwickshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ketcher

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ketcher

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ketcher, 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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ketcher is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Ketcher is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ketcher falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ketcher 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 Ketcher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ketcher

The surname Ketcher is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "kecc," which means "dweller by the channel or stream." This suggests that the name's bearers initially resided near a watercourse or a body of water.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable mention is in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a certain Walter le Keccher is listed. This spelling variation, "le Keccher," highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the Ketcher surname appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a census-like record compiled during the reign of King Edward I. This document mentions a John Keccher, providing insight into the name's presence in different regions of England during that era.

The Ketcher name has also been associated with certain place names, such as Ketcher's Green in Bedfordshire. This connection suggests that the surname may have originated from a specific location or region where the earliest bearers of the name resided.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Ketcher. One such figure was John Ketcher (1555-1638), a prominent English merchant and landowner who served as the Sheriff of London in 1615. Another was William Ketcher (1678-1744), a respected scholar and theologian who authored several religious treatises during his lifetime.

Other individuals of note include:

1. Thomas Ketcher (1620-1692), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northampton from 1661 to 1679. 2. Mary Ketcher (1745-1812), a philanthropist and social reformer known for her efforts in improving the living conditions of the poor in London. 3. Richard Ketcher (1792-1867), a renowned landscape painter whose works are displayed in several galleries across England. 4. Elizabeth Ketcher (1818-1892), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's education, founding one of the first schools for girls in Manchester. 5. George Ketcher (1875-1947), a celebrated architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ketcher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ketcher 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. Surrey leads with 31 Ketchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.18x.

County Total Index
Surrey 31 5.18x
Essex 25 10.30x
Hampshire 18 7.15x
Middlesex 11 0.90x
Sussex 10 4.83x
Northamptonshire 8 6.92x
Hertfordshire 5 5.90x
Midlothian 5 3.04x
Glamorgan 4 1.87x
Yorkshire 4 0.33x
Bedfordshire 2 3.14x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.55x
Warwickshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wisborough Green in Sussex leads with 9 Ketchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1285.71x.

Place Total Index
Wisborough Green 9 1285.71x
Kettering 8 170.94x
Albury 7 1272.73x
Christchurch 7 128.21x
Dorking 5 124.38x
Guildford Holy Trinity 5 438.60x
Hammersmith London 5 16.51x
Lasswade 5 132.98x
Maldon St Marys 5 862.07x
Northwood 5 139.28x
Rayleigh 5 892.86x
Flaunden 4 4000.00x
Guildford St Mary 4 540.54x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 19.45x
Sutton 4 6666.67x
Wivenhoe 4 416.67x
Bradford 3 10.18x
Camberwell 3 3.82x
Grays Thurrock 3 133.33x
Lambeth 3 2.80x
Cranleigh 2 227.27x
Great Burstead 2 227.27x
Hackney London 2 2.90x
Millbrook 2 31.55x
Shalford 2 303.03x
Southampton St Mary 2 12.63x
Birmingham 1 0.97x
Bramshaw 1 312.50x
Denton 1 30.96x
Henlow 1 256.41x
Hornsey 1 6.44x
Ickleford 1 416.67x
Kensington London 1 1.46x
Linthwaite 1 39.06x
Luton 1 9.07x
Norwood 1 35.59x
Petworth 1 80.65x
Prittlewell 1 29.76x
Prudhoe 1 78.74x
St Pancras London 1 1.01x
Tillingham 1 232.56x
Ventnor 1 41.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 8
Mary 6
Charlotte 5
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Emily 3
Ann 2
Clara 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Jane 2
Anne 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Claribel 1
Elaza 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Marey 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Octavia 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 10
William 9
Henry 5
Thomas 5
George 4
Joseph 3
Charles 2
Frederick 2
Albert 1
Bern 1
Britton 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Infant 1
Jas. 1
Napier 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ketcher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ketcher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 126 people were recorded with the Ketcher surname. That placed it at #17,245 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ketcher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Ketcher a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Ketcher surname mean?

A surname originating from an occupational name for a maker of ketches or hunting nets.

What does the Ketcher map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ketcher 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.