Surname Witcher - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Witcher: What does the surname Witcher mean?
The last name Witcher is of English origin and is believed to be an occupational surname. It most likely derived from a Middle English word which referred to people or tradesman who worked with wicker or related material, such as wicker baskets or furniture. Thus, it may be that the original bearers of the surname were wicker weavers or basketmakers by profession.
The modern-day surname Witcher can also be found in other countries, including Germany, Scotland, and France. It is found in various records dating back to 1590. It can be found in England and Wales, as well as in the United States, during the nineteenth century.
In the United States, it is found that individuals bearing the surname Witcher had entered the country by the early 1800s. These individuals had settled in various parts of the country, including Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and elsewhere. Today, the surname Witcher is especially common in the Midwest, where there are many descendants of the original family members from England. It is also found in other parts of the United States, though more sparsely.
The surname Witcher can be an interesting choice when tracing one's family history. It is a reminder of where one's ancestors originated and the trade they once pursued. One can wonder what life was like for them as they settled in a new country and adjusted to the life of a tradesman.
Order DNA origin analysisWitcher: Where does the name Witcher come from?
The last name Witcher is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe in modern day. In Poland, it is a popular and relatively common name, with records showing the name in use there since the 13th century. It is also recorded in Slovakia, Romania, and Belarus. In some Eastern European regions, like Belarus and Slovakia, it is occasionally found as Wicher, Vitcher, Vycher, and Vychorka.
In Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, records for the name Witcher are not as common compared to other European countries. It appears to be a rare name in Germany, where it may be spelled as Wicher, Witscher, or Wittscher. It is also reportedly found in Austria, Iceland, and France, though it is unclear how common it is in those countries.
In the United States, the name Witcher is fairly uncommon. It is estimated that only around 1,500 people with the name live in the US as of 2020. Most are likely descended from settlers who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, where the name is much more common. Around 5% of Americans with the name Witcher are thought to be of African American descent.
Variations of the surname Witcher
The surname Witcher is derived from the Middle English word wicche which is an occupational name for one who practices witchcraft or sorcery. It is thought to have originated from Old English wit meaning 'wisdom'.
This surname has a lot of variants, spellings and related names. The most common variation is Wychaw which is derived from adding the Old English aw suffix denoting ‘male.’ Other variants include Wycher, Witchar, Wicher, Wiciar, Wycherly, Wichard, Wixer, Whicker, Wysser, Wychert, and Wyckert.
The surnames Wysocki, Wiscovitch, and Wyszomirski are also related to Witcher. These names were derived from the Polish word for ‘magician’, which has a similar sound to the Middle English word wicche.
The surname ‘Vicher’ is thought to be derived from a shortened version of Witcher, and its variants include Vicker, Wickar, and Vickerstaff. Other related surnames include Vetcher, Vitcher, Vycher, Witchey, Wytch and Wixted.
The name Wichert is derived from the German word wischer, meaning ‘washer’ or ‘cleaner’. This was likely an occupational name for one who performs these duties. Other surnames in this category include Wischers, Wischo, Wischnewski, Wischnow, and Wischofsky.
Finally, there are several surnames that are related to Witcher by way of pronunciation such as Wickes, Weis, Weist, Weisz, Weiss, Weise, Weisheit, Weiser, Wise, and Wiseman.
Famous people with the name Witcher
- Lauren Witcher: American television actress
- William Witcher: American actor
- Raymond Witcher: convincing actor from the United States
- Christopher Witcher: Former American actor
- Trey Witcher: Became well known as director on History Channel's project, WWII in HD
- Paul Witcher: American theater professional
- Peadar Witcher: Irish comedian
- Tricia Witcher: Former global product director at Clairol Professional
- Emily Witcher: Sound engineer and designer
- Edward Witcher: British film editor