UK surname
A German surname meaning "maker" or "doer".
In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Macher surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 18, ranked #36,832, down from #28,837 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macher is 135 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 47.1%.
1881 census count
34
Ranked #28,837
Modern count
18
2016, ranked #36,832
Peak year
1861
135 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Macher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Macher surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 40 | #26,118 |
| 1861 | historical | 135 | #16,651 |
| 1881 | historical | 34 | #28,837 |
| 1891 | historical | 85 | #26,080 |
| 1901 | historical | 54 | #28,178 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 27 | #35,016 |
| 1998 | modern | 32 | #34,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 33 | #34,610 |
| 2000 | modern | 28 | #35,080 |
| 2001 | modern | 27 | #35,041 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 26 | #36,012 |
| 2009 | modern | 28 | #35,988 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 19 | #36,668 |
| 2012 | modern | 17 | #36,811 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 18 | #36,832 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, St Giles-in-the-Fields and Old Monkland. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | St Giles-in-the-Fields | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | Old Monkland | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Macher surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Macher, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Macher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Macher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Macher is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Macher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Macher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Macher is of German origin, and it first appeared in the 14th century in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in Bavaria. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "macher," which means "maker" or "doer." This occupational surname was likely given to individuals who worked as skilled craftsmen or artisans.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Macher can be found in the Bavarian town of Rosenheim, where a certain Hans Macher was mentioned in a document dated 1372. This document was a record of land ownership and transactions in the region.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Macher name began to spread beyond Bavaria to other parts of Germany, including Saxony and Württemberg. In the city of Dresden, a notable figure named Johann Macher (1522-1594) was a prominent goldsmith and jeweler who crafted intricate pieces for the Saxon nobility.
The Macher surname also found its way into the historical records of neighboring Austria. In the city of Vienna, a merchant named Georg Macher (1678-1743) was known for his successful trading business and philanthropic efforts in supporting local churches and charities.
Another notable individual with the Macher surname was Johann Michael Macher (1753-1823), a German painter and engraver from Nuremberg. His works, which included landscapes and portraits, were highly regarded during his lifetime and can still be found in various art collections across Europe.
As the Macher family continued to spread across German-speaking regions, the name underwent slight variations in spelling, such as Macker, Macher, and Mächer. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of individual families.
One particularly interesting historical reference to the Macher name can be found in the annals of the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, where a baker named Hans Macher was mentioned in connection with a guild dispute in the year 1497. This record provides insight into the various trades and occupations associated with the Macher surname.
While the surname Macher is not as common as some other German surnames, it has left its mark on history through the contributions of individuals in various fields, from artisans and merchants to artists and tradesmen.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macher surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 13 Machers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.04x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 13 | 4.04x |
| Aberdeenshire | 7 | 23.50x |
| Lanarkshire | 6 | 5.77x |
| Angus | 3 | 10.07x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 6.92x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.49x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 8 Machers recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.39x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shoreditch London | 8 | 57.39x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 7 | 125.67x |
| Old Monkland | 6 | 145.28x |
| Upton | 3 | 6000.00x |
| Dundee | 2 | 17.99x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 11.09x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 13.18x |
| Monifieth | 1 | 95.24x |
| St Botolph Aldgate | 1 | 227.27x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 3.86x |
| Stoke Damerel | 1 | 21.32x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Macher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Macher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Macher households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Needlewoman | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Boot Clicker | 1 |
| Boot Mk | 1 |
| Clerk (Mercantile) | 1 |
| Farmer 3 Men 1 Boy (121 Acres) | 1 |
| Potman | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
| Travelling Bag Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Macher surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 18 in 2016. That gives Macher a modern rank of #36,832.
A German surname meaning "maker" or "doer".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Macher bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.