NameCensus.

UK surname

Witcher

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of candles, or a person who hunts animals for food.

In the 1881 census there were 209 people recorded with the Witcher surname, ranking it #12,475 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 255, ranked #16,576, down from #12,475 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, Milford with Keyhaven (incl. Efford) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Dorset, Braintree and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Witcher is 288 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.0%.

1881 census count

209

Ranked #12,475

Modern count

255

2016, ranked #16,576

Peak year

1861

288 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Witcher had 209 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,475 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 255 in 2016, ranked #16,576.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 288 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Witcher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Witcher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Witcher 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 233 #9,272
1861 historical 288 #8,743
1881 historical 209 #12,475
1891 historical 248 #12,849
1901 historical 248 #13,204
1911 historical 249 #12,951
1997 modern 274 #14,374
1998 modern 271 #14,883
1999 modern 265 #15,187
2000 modern 266 #15,096
2001 modern 262 #15,034
2002 modern 253 #15,677
2003 modern 240 #16,061
2004 modern 234 #16,416
2005 modern 232 #16,480
2006 modern 235 #16,439
2007 modern 235 #16,668
2008 modern 228 #17,146
2009 modern 238 #17,002
2010 modern 238 #17,323
2011 modern 242 #17,001
2012 modern 242 #16,886
2013 modern 257 #16,466
2014 modern 263 #16,334
2015 modern 259 #16,409
2016 modern 255 #16,576

Geography

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Where Witchers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, Milford with Keyhaven (incl. Efford), London parishes and Isleworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Dorset, Braintree, Winchester, West Devon and Test Valley. 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 Romsey Extra, Michelmersh Hampshire
2 Milford with Keyhaven (incl. Efford) Hampshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Isleworth Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Dorset 003 North Dorset
2 Braintree 011 Braintree
3 Winchester 004 Winchester
4 West Devon 005 West Devon
5 Test Valley 003 Test Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Witcher

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Witcher

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Witcher, 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 Witcher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Witcher 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Witcher is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Witcher is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Witcher falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Witcher

The surname WITCHER has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "wicce," meaning "witch" or "sorcerer." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone involved in witchcraft or magical practices.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1176, which mention a Richard le Wiccher. The name also appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Wiltshire from 1221, referring to a Reginald le Wyccher.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Wyccher, Wychcher, and Wichcher, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in spellings at the time. Some early bearers of the name include John Wyccher, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, and William Wyccher, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

The name WITCHER may have also been associated with certain occupations or trades related to witchcraft or sorcery. In some regions, it could have been used to refer to individuals who practiced traditional folk magic or herbalism.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname include Sir John Witcher (1516-1585), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent individual was William Witcher (1642-1720), a prominent Quaker minister and writer from Northamptonshire.

In the 17th century, the name can be found in various records, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of Yorkshire from 1673, which list a Thomas Witcher. The Parish Registers of Gloucestershire from 1685 also mention a William Witcher.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname had spread to other parts of England and Wales, as well as to North America through emigration. Some notable bearers of the name during this period include John Witcher (1771-1838), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy, and George Witcher (1804-1878), an English-born settler in Australia who became a prominent landowner and politician in Victoria.

Throughout its history, the surname WITCHER has maintained a strong association with its Old English roots and the concept of witchcraft or magical practices, although its meaning and connotations may have evolved over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Witcher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Witcher 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. Hampshire leads with 100 Witchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.71x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 100 23.71x
Middlesex 34 1.65x
Surrey 14 1.40x
Sussex 14 4.03x
Dorset 9 6.66x
Glamorgan 7 1.95x
Lancashire 6 0.25x
Berkshire 4 2.59x
Kent 4 0.57x
Buckinghamshire 3 2.41x
Devon 3 0.70x
Gloucestershire 2 0.50x
Royal Navy 2 8.15x
Wiltshire 2 1.10x
Cheshire 1 0.22x
Leicestershire 1 0.44x
Lincolnshire 1 0.30x
Oxfordshire 1 0.79x
Shropshire 1 0.56x
Warwickshire 1 0.19x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hursley in Hampshire leads with 17 Witchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1734.69x.

Place Total Index
Hursley 17 1734.69x
Isleworth 15 163.93x
Milford 11 894.31x
Milton 9 857.14x
Newton Nottage 7 714.29x
Wivelsfield 7 514.71x
Portsea 6 7.26x
Twyford 6 594.06x
Wimborne 6 368.10x
Boldre 5 331.13x
Hammersmith London 5 9.86x
St John Winchester 5 561.80x
Amport 4 833.33x
Andover 4 100.25x
Bermondsey 4 6.53x
Kings Somborne 4 454.55x
Wickham 4 512.82x
Battersea 3 3.96x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 15.47x
Dartmouth St Petrox 3 483.87x
Felpham 3 750.00x
Hamble Le Rice 3 1034.48x
Iver 3 187.50x
Kintbury 3 252.10x
Lymington 3 96.77x
Milton In Gravesend 3 28.49x
New Alresford 3 275.23x
Portland 3 41.32x
Westminster St John 3 11.97x
Aldershot 2 14.15x
Brading 2 35.65x
Chichester St Pancras 2 192.31x
Croydon 2 3.59x
Islington London 2 1.00x
Portsmouth 2 20.60x
Richmond 2 14.23x
Royal Navy 2 9.54x
Spotland 2 7.37x
St Anne Soho London 2 17.02x
St Martin In Fields 2 16.23x
St Peter Cheesehill 2 333.33x
Stroud 2 25.45x
Alderbury 1 117.65x
Alverstoke 1 6.55x
Brighton 1 1.43x
Britford 1 83.33x
Camberwell 1 0.76x
Coventry St Michael 1 6.00x
Ditchling 1 105.26x
Egham 1 16.23x
Grantham 1 23.31x
Hampstead London 1 3.12x
Hendon 1 13.51x
Hordle 1 136.99x
Hougham 1 23.92x
Kensington London 1 0.87x
Kirby Misperton 1 526.32x
Knights Enham 1 909.09x
Leicester St Mary 1 5.42x
Pownall Fee 1 49.26x
Ryde 1 11.04x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 16.03x
South Stoneham 1 10.93x
Southampton St Mary 1 3.77x
St George Hanover 1 3.72x
St Pancras London 1 0.60x
St Thomas Winchester 1 33.56x
Stokenchurch 1 87.72x
Tichborne 1 416.67x
Warfield 1 71.43x
Warlingham 1 123.46x
West Derby 1 1.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Sarah 7
Emily 6
Ellen 5
Emma 5
E. 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Frances 3
Jane 3
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Kate 2
A. 1
Ada 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
C. 1
Clara 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Hellen 1
L. 1
Laura 1
M. 1
M.A. 1
Magdelen 1
Margaret 1
Margarett 1
Polly 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
S. 1
Sophia 1
Thirah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 13
William 13
Thomas 10
Charles 8
John 7
Harry 5
James 5
Henry 4
Alfred 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
A. 1
Arthur 1
Christopher 1
David 1
E. 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Horace 1
J.W. 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Mark 1
N. 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
T. 1
Tom. 1
Wm 1

FAQ

Witcher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Witcher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 209 people were recorded with the Witcher surname. That placed it at #12,475 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Witcher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 255 in 2016. That gives Witcher a modern rank of #16,576.

What does the Witcher surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of candles, or a person who hunts animals for food.

What does the Witcher map show?

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