Surname Boutcher - Meaning and Origin
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Boutcher: What does the surname Boutcher mean?
The last name Boutcher is a variant of the surname Butcher. It is of English occupational origin, referring to someone who worked as a butcher, slaughtering and selling meats. The origin of the name came from the Old French word "bouchier", which became "butcher" in English, and means "slaughterer of goats". The name was given to people who performed this role in medieval England. In some cases, the name might have been used for individuals who acted cruelly or with violence, reflecting the bloody nature of a butcher's job. So, the Boutcher surname denotes a person's profession or characteristics attributed to it during the medieval period.
Order DNA origin analysisBoutcher: Where does the name Boutcher come from?
The last name Boutcher is of English origin. It is believed to have derived from the trade of a butcher, which in Old French is "boucher". It's suggested that the family lived in a place noted for the slaughter of animals, which is signified by the use of this surname.
As all surnames have evolved over time, under the influence of phonics, social, and regional dialects, it has had several variants including Butcher, Boucher, Butchere, Boutcher, and others. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ailward Bouchier, in the Hampshire charters, during the reign of King Stephen of England, 1135-1154.
Today, the name is spread across the globe due to the movement and migration of people, but it's particularly common in English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. However, the highest Boutcher population is reportedly in the United States, followed by England.
Variations of the surname Boutcher
The surname Boutcher most likely has English origins. It is a variant of the more common surname Butcher, which means a meat cutter, derived from the Old French term "bouchier". The name Boutcher might have been a trade name given initially to persons who work as butchers.
Variations and alternative spellings of this surname include Butcher, Boucher, Bucher, Bouchez, Butchar, Buchar, Buciher, Butcers, Butcere, Butchere, Boutchers, Boutchier, Bouttier, Butch, Butchere, Butches and Butchar. These surnames might vary regionally or might represent different historical spellings.
Remember that spelling was not standardized until relatively recently, and surnames particularly were transcribed as they sounded. Therefore, it's common to find various spellings of the same surname.
Surname variants can arise due to phonetic spelling by individuals of different literacy levels or due to translation between languages (Boucher is a common French variant). Many databases on genealogy might link these variations, acknowledging that they possibly refer to the same family lineage.
Famous people with the name Boutcher
The last name Boutcher may not be very common, but there are a few personalities associated with it. William Boutcher is a notable person, an 18th-century Scottish nurseryman and landscape designer known for his work in several estates including Dalkeith Park. William Boutcher Jr., his son, was also prominent as an architect and wrote a treatise on botany. As for the modern era, Stephen Boutcher is an internationally recognized scholar in sociology, specializing in culture, gender, and the body. In the world of sports, Geoff Boutcher is known in the field of Cricket. Finally, in the dramatic arts, Alex Boutcher, an American actor known for his roles in movies like The Ring, The Awakening, and Modern Time Blues can be mentioned. Please note, however, that fame is subjective and some of these individuals might not be universally recognized.