UK surname
A surname derived from the occupational term for a thatcher, one who thatches roofs.
In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Thacher surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #27,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Itchington, Bishops, Kessingland and Kings Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thacher is 101 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.1%.
1881 census count
46
Ranked #27,188
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1891
101 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Thacher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Thacher surname density by area, 1891 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 | 44 | #25,328 |
| 1861 | historical | 95 | #21,768 |
| 1881 | historical | 46 | #27,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 101 | #23,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 22 | #31,030 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 12 | #36,806 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Itchington, Bishops, Kessingland, Kings Norton, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace and Waddington, Mere Hospital. 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 | Itchington, Bishops | Warwickshire |
| 2 | Kessingland | Suffolk |
| 3 | Kings Norton | Worcestershire |
| 4 | Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace | Shropshire |
| 5 | Waddington, Mere Hospital | Lincolnshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Thacher 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 Thacher, 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 Thacher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Thacher 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, Thacher 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 Thacher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Thacher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Thacher is believed to have originated in England during the medieval era. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "thæcce," which meant a thatcher or one who thatched roofs. This occupation was an essential trade in villages and towns across England during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Thacher surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions a person named "Teodric le Thacker" who was a landowner in the county of Gloucestershire.
Throughout the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Thacher, Thatcher, Thatchar, and Thachar. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.
A notable figure bearing the Thacher surname was Rev. Thomas Thacher, who lived from 1588 to 1678. He was an English clergyman and one of the founders of the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, in the early colonial era of America. He is remembered for his role in establishing the first Congregational church in that town.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Peter Thacher, born in 1752, who was a prominent lawyer and judge in Massachusetts. He served as a justice on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1800 to 1824.
In the realm of literature, Thomas Thacher, born in 1758, was a notable writer and poet who published several works, including "An Essay on Demonology, Ghosts, and Apparitions" in 1789.
Moving forward in time, George Thacher, born in 1819, was a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He led troops in several significant battles, including the Battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.
Finally, John Boyd Thacher, born in 1847, was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Albany, New York. He donated a substantial portion of his wealth to establish the John Boyd Thacher State Park, a popular outdoor recreation area in the Helderberg Mountains.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the Thacher surname throughout history, reflecting the name's English origins and its presence across various professions and walks of life.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thacher 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. Warwickshire leads with 16 Thachers recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.14x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishops Itchington in Warwickshire leads with 16 Thachers recorded in 1881 and an index of 14545.45x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bishops Itchington | 16 | 14545.45x |
| Kessingland | 6 | 3157.89x |
| Leicester St Mary | 5 | 124.38x |
| Hammersmith London | 4 | 36.20x |
| Poplar London | 4 | 47.23x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 8.35x |
| Beeston With Bittering | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 3.49x |
| Devonport | 1 | 93.46x |
| Ganstead | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Newington | 1 | 6.03x |
| Rye | 1 | 138.89x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 5.14x |
| Sittingbourne | 1 | 82.64x |
| Walcot | 1 | 25.97x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Thacher 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 Thacher 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 Thacher households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Carpenter | 2 |
| Lab | 2 |
| ... | 1 |
| Ag Lab & Quarryman | 1 |
| Carpr Crew | 1 |
| Clerk Civil Service | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Compositer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Lab | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Fireman | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Laborers Wife | 1 |
| Labs Wife | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Marine Engineer | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Quarryman | 1 |
| Wool Factory Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Thacher surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Thacher a modern rank of #38,264.
A surname derived from the occupational term for a thatcher, one who thatches roofs.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Thacher 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.