BOUCHER
Boucher is a surname that is firmly rooted in French linguistic history. It originates from the French word boucher, which denotes a butcher. As an occupational surname, it was originally applied to individuals whose profession involved the slaughter and preparation of meat, a vital trade in medieval society.
Early records of the name in England appear under a variety of spellings that reflect the evolving English language and the influence of Norman French. The earliest extant attestation is Ailwardus le Bochere, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of London in 1184 during the reign of King Henry VI. Subsequent documents include Richard le Bucher of Essex in 1240, William Bochier of Sussex in 1327, and Thomas le Bouker in the Lancashire Subsidy Rolls of 1332. By the 16th and 17th centuries the name had established itself further, as evidenced by Richard Boutcher, town clerk of Stamford, Lincolnshire, in 1646, and by the baptismal record of Richard Boucher in St Michaels Parish, Barbados, on 1 December 1678.
In addition to the spelling Boucher, the surname has survived in England and elsewhere under variants such as Boshier, Bouchier, Bucher, Boutcher, Bouker, and Bowker. These variations arose from regional pronunciation differences, transliteration practices, and the adaptation of the name to English orthography. A number of families have also Anglicised the name altogether, producing surnames such as Butcher or Booker.
Following historic migration trends, the name spread beyond Europe. It remains common in France and is also found among French‑speaking communities in Canada – particularly in Quebec – the United States, and South Africa. Variants that carry geographical or honourific associations include Boucher de Perthes, Boucher de Crèvecoeur, and Boucher de Boucherville.
While the name Boucher shares meaning with other occupational surnames such as the German Metzger, the Irish Mac an tSagairt, and the Danish Slagter, these names belong to distinct linguistic traditions and are not genealogically related to the French Boucher lineage.
Typical given names associated with the Boucher surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Gary
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Carol
- Caroline
- Elizabeth
- Jacqueline
- Julie
- Karen
- Linda
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Bachar
- Bachara
- Bacher
- Bachir
- Bachor
- Bachour
- Bachra
- Baecher
- Baicher
- Bashar
- Bashara
- Bashari
- Basheer
- Basher
- Bashier
- Bashir
- Bashiri
- Bashiru
- Bashor
- Bashore
- Batcher
- Baucher
- Bausher
- Beacher
- Beatcher
- Bechar
- Bechara
- Becher
- Becheru
- Bechor
- Beecher
- Beicher
- Beshara
- Besher
- Beshier
- Beshir
- Beshiri
- Beshoori
- Beshr
- Betcher
- Beucher
- Beusher
- Bewshear
- Bewsher
- Bewshire
- Bichara
- Bicher
- Bichri
- Bishara
- Bisher
- Boacher
- Bocher
- Bochra
- Boecher
- Boetcher
- Boettcher
- Booker
- Boshar
- Bosher
- Boshier
- Boshir
- Boshor
- Botcher
- Bottcher
- Bouch
- Boucha
- Bouchaara
- Bouchair
- Bouchane
- Bouchar
- Bouchara
- Bouchard
- Bouchareb
- Bouchart
- Bouche
- Boucherat
- Bouchere
- Bouchereau
- Boucherie
- Boucherit
- Boucheron
- Bouchers
- Bouches
- Bouchet
- Bouchex
- Bouchez
- Bouchier
- Boushear
- Boushehri
- Bousher
- Boushier
- Boutchard
- Boutcher
- Boutchier
- Bowcher
- Bowchier
- Bowsher
- Buchar
- Bucher
- Buchert
- Buchey
- Buchta
- Buecher
- Buscher
- Busey
- Busha
- Bushara
- Bushay
- Bushehri
- Busher
- Bushey
- Bushiri
- Bushore
- Bushra
- Butchar
- Butchard
- Butchart
- Butcher
- Butcherd
- Butchere
- Butchers
- Butchert
- Buttcher
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Boucher in...
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There are approximately 3,237 people named Boucher in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,804th most common surname in Britain. Around 50 in a million people in Britain are named Boucher.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Boucher
- Claire Elise Boucher - Canadian musician and music video director
- Evelyn Boucher - Actress (1892 to 1991)
- Charles Hamilton Boucher - Indian Army general (1898 to 1951)
- Sidney Boucher - Cricketer (1899 to 1963)
- Arthur Boucher - Rugby union player (1870 to 1948)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.