Surname Blecher - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Blecher: What does the surname Blecher mean?
The last name Blecher is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "blöcher" which translates to "butcher." The surname refers to a butcher, or one who works with the slaughtering, preparing, and selling of meat.
In the Middle Ages, the profession of a butcher was vital to the community, and was highly respected by the townsfolk. Butchers were mostly located in towns and cities, and could be found in free butchers’ guilds or in larger “master butchers” franchises. Butchers were responsible for taking care of the livestock, slaughtering them, and preparing their meats.
The Blecher family could have entered the profession due to their knowledge of the trade, their passion for animals, or simply out of necessity. When researching other families with the same last name, it is common to find that they, too, have a history related to butchery.
Since the Blecher surname is a profession-based surname, it also provides insights into a family’s history and culture, which can typically be traced back to Germany or other German-speaking countries. As a result, people with the Blecher surname often have strong German connections, despite having lived in different countries throughout the years. The name also speaks to the family’s resilience, having endured hardships and changed occupations over the years.
The Blecher family have certainly had a long and rich history, and their name will live on for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisBlecher: Where does the name Blecher come from?
The last name Blecher is primarily found in countries of central and eastern Europe such as Poland and Russia, as well as the United States. According to the US census data, roughly 3,000 people in the United States bear the name Blecher. Most of these people are of Eastern European Jewish descent. The name Blecher can also be found in Israel and other countries throughout the world, with the highest concentrations in Russia and Ukraine.
In the United States, most of the people bearing the name Blecher can be found in New York and New Jersey. There is a significant Jewish population in these states, as well as other areas of the Northeast. Additionally, many other Blecher family members have spread throughout the United States, to cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami, resulting in a more even distribution of the last name.
The last name Blecher is a unisex name and is considered to be quite uncommon. It is the 759,614th most common surname in the world. Despite its rarity, Blecher is still a proud and popular name, with origins that go back centuries. It is a source of pride for many individuals who bear the name, and for the Blecher families whose history and heritage is tightly intertwined with the name and its unique history of immigration and migration within the central and eastern European countries and the United States.
Variations of the surname Blecher
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Blecher include Blaich, Blech, Blechschmitt, Blecker, Bloch, Blocher, Blechinger, Bleyer, Blaichauer, Bleicher, Bleichner, Blaichner and Blaichmüller.
These surnames are of German origin, stemming from the Middle High German term ‘bleich’ or ‘bleiche’ meaning ‘plank of wood’ or ‘slab of wood’. This was likely a metonymic occupational name for a wood worker, especially carpenter.
Early written examples of Blecher include John Blocher who married Elizabeth Barclay at Glasgow Cathedral in 1845 and John Blecher who married until 1868.
In the modern day, the surname Blecher is associated with notable people like Henry Blecher, an American lawyer and business advisor, as well as Alan Blecher, an American film producer.
The Blecher coat of arms is a silver shield with a black chevron surrounded by three red mullets in chief. The crest is a right arm rising out of clouds, holding a halbert and an arrow with a ring. This symbolises strength and power.
Many of these surnames are still found in German speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland and Germany.
In conclusion, Blecher is a surname of German origin with multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, each of which demonstrate clear family and occupational connections.
Famous people with the name Blecher
- Mark Blecher: A business executive and entrepreneur who is the chief strategy officer of Time Warner Cable and the chief programming and content officer of Turner Broadcasting.
- David Blecher: A dean and professor at CUNY Law School and a partner at Ingleson & Blecher LLP.
- Jonathan Blecher: A Miami-based criminal defense lawyer who has defended a variety of high-profile clients, including musicians, sports and media personalities.
- Marvin Blecher: A retired American psychologist and professor who has written and lectured extensively on the theory and practice of group psychotherapy.
- Ron Blecher: A Canadian-American film and television actor, best known for his roles in Cagney & Lacey and NYPD Blue.
- Ruth Blecher: A former National Basketball Association executive and the first woman to serve on NBA team boards.
- Sam Blecher: A mathematician, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Davis, and recipient of the AWM-SIAM Kovalevsky Prize.
- Elana Blecher: An American Olympic figure skating judge and national technical specialist.
- Frieda Blecher: A former Yugoslav international swimmer who competed in the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics.
- Pieter Blecher: A South African theologian and church minister who has worked in the Reformed Church in South Africa.