Surname Socher - Meaning and Origin
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Socher: What does the surname Socher mean?
The origin of the last name Socher is uncertain; some sources believe it to have German or Jewish roots. One theory is that the surname is a variation of the German name Söcher, which is derived from the Old High German word “sucher,” meaning “searcher” or “investigator.”
Another possibility is that Socher is a Jewish name. Jewish surnames often derive from Biblical places or aspects of God, but this one may have more mundane origins. For instance, “sachar,” which is the Hebrew word for “income,” has a pronunciation similar to Socher. This implies the last name may have been adopted by an ancestor who was in the business of collecting or distributing rents, or who otherwise dealt with money.
In addition, Socher is another spelling of the German/Yiddish name Sacher. This name is associated with the famous Austrian Sacher-Torte, which was created in 1832 by Franz Sacher. It is possible the custodian of the recipe may have been the progenitor of the surname.
No matter the origin, the Socher family has a proud ancestry and a fascinating history. The name has even been adapted to other languages, including the Spanish spelling Sócher, and the Sicilian spelling Socer. Indeed, the Socher name has become a lasting testament of the families that have adopted it.
Order DNA origin analysisSocher: Where does the name Socher come from?
The surname Socher is most commonly found in Austria and Germany today, with a significant presence in the United States and Canada. It is also found in several other countries, including Switzerland, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic.
The name Socher has its origin in the Middle Ages, when it was used as a descriptive name for someone who lived at a large fenced-off homestead. It likely began as a nickname for someone who lived in such a house or property, developed into a hereditary surname when people began to adopt surnames, and has been in use ever since.
Socher is thought to derive from a German word meaning “enclosure,” or a “protected precint.” Over the centuries, the surname has evolved into many different spelling variants, including Soch, Soce, Soc, Soehler, Sochler, Zoch, and Schroder.
The prevalence of the name Socher has changed over the years, as its geographical origins and spelling have changed. In Austria and Germany, it is among the most commonly borne surnames. In rural areas, it is still relatively common. In countries such as the United States and Canada, the name Socher is less common, as it was usually only adopted by people who immigrated from a German-speaking country.
Variations of the surname Socher
Sacher is a surname of German origin. Spellings and variants of the name include Socher, Sohrer, Söcher, Zacher and Zacherl. The ‘zer’ ending is German for ‘son of.’ For example, ‘Zacher’ may be the son of Zache, a form of the name Zacharias.
The surname Socher can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was first recorded in documents from the area of Herford, Germany. It first appeared in the form of the Latin word socherius or socheriatus, meaning a “brave warrior” or “strong fighter.” The name is believed to have been derived from the Old German word sicher, which means "strong."
The name has been an integral part of the history of Bavaria. Some of the more famous Bavarian bearers of the Socher name include the composer Wilhelm Sacher (1786-1868), the artist Hermann Sacher (1816-1880), the sculptor Lorenzo Sacher (1860-1947), and the philosopher Adolf Sacher (1864-1935).
The name Socher is also associated with Jewish ancestry as many of its bearers are of Ashkenazi descent, originally from Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Hungary and Romania. Today, the name is mostly found in Germany, Austria, the United States, as well as other countries of the world.
Famous people with the name Socher
- Richard Socher: a professor of computer science at Stanford University and the Chief Scientist of insurance company Element AI.
- Luke Socher: a former college quarterback and now a football coach who has been head coach at Northwestern College and Mayville State University.
- Gene Socher: a professional ice hockey goaltender who has played in the National Hockey League and in the American Hockey League.
- Ruth Socher: an American actress and model who had a featured role in the musical film Damn Yankees.
- Aaron Socher: an American songwriter and musician, best known for writing "Smoke Rings," a hit for The Chordettes.
- Jon Socher: an Israeli composer, conductor and musician who has composed music for feature films, television programs, and video games.
- Andy Socher: a computer programmer who was a director at Apple Inc. and worked on the QuickTime movie playback system and the iPod.
- Joe Socher: a professional baseball player with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1950s.
- Robert Socher: an Austrian mathematician who made important contributions to the areas of probability theory and game theory.
- Mary Socher: an American rights campaigner, writer, and social activist who was a founder of the National Organization for Women.