Surname Welcher - Meaning and Origin

Welcher: What does the surname Welcher mean?

The last name Welcher is of English origin and dates back to the 11th century. It is a habitational name derived from the numerous places so named in various parts of the country, derived from the Old English words "welig," meaning willow, and "ceaster," meaning a Roman fort or walled city. It is also believed to be an occupational name, derived from the Old English word "welcere," which is related to the word "wealwa," meaning a weaver. As a surname, Welcher would have been used for someone who either lived near a willow fort or was a weaver.

In the modern United States, Welcher is the 1,342nd most common surname. The highest recorded use of the last name Welcher comes from England, where it has been in use since the 11th century. The earliest recorded use of the family name in the United States was in 1630, when Abraham Welcher and Jane Welcher arrived in Virginia, carrying the family name to the New World.

Over the centuries, the Welcher surname has had a number of spellings, including Welcer, Wellcer, Weldcer, Weldsar, Welker, Welcher, and Welckar. Despite these variations, the name remains basically true to its original form, and today it is widely recognized as belonging to the same family.

Welcher: Where does the name Welcher come from?

The surname Welcher is of German origin and is found mostly in the US, Germany, Canada and England. In the US, Welchers are found mostly in the South and Midwest regions, including states like Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia.

In terms of origin, the surname Welcher is thought to come from the German name Waltfrid, meaning ‘ruling peace’. The Welcher variation also has roots in the German word Welf, which refers to a noble class of people who were part of the Carolingian empire in the 800s. This noble class intermingled with serfs, creating the Welcher name as we know it today.

Today, Welcher is still a fairly common surname in the US, particularly in the Southern and Midwest regions. The name can be seen quite frequently in phone books and directories. It is also used by many popular figures in the sports world, including golfer Jay Welcher and NFL quarterback Bob Welcher.

Overall, the surname Welcher is a fairly common one in the US and remains popular today. It’s a distinctive name due to its German roots and has been around for hundreds of years.

Variations of the surname Welcher

The surname Welcher is a patronymic name derived from a given name. It is an old English name found first primarily in the region of Yorkshire in England. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are Wally, Wellcher, Welche, Welsher, Willcher, Wilcock, and Wilcockson.

Wally is a short form of Walter, a masculine given name of Old German origin derived from the name Waldhar, meaning the “ruler of the army”. Wellcher, Welche, and Welsher are all variants that are derived from the Old English term welsce meaning “foreigner” or “Welsh man”. Willcher is a variant that may have evolved as a diminutive form of William, which derived from the Old Norman French term Willame, meaning “desire” or “protection”.

Wilcock is derived from the Middle English term wilcok meaning “wise” or “intelligent”. Wilcockson is a patronymic form of Wilcock and is derived from the Middle English term “sonne of Wilcock”.

All of the variants, spellings and surnames derived from Welcher are related and represent alternative forms of the same origin. Each of them is traceable to an English form of the given name Walter.

Famous people with the name Welcher

• Scott Welcher: former professional American football player and assistant coach in the National Football League.
• Marcia Welcher: former model, photographer, and actress.
• Melinda Welcher: famed singer and songwriter.
• Kyle Welcher: astrophysicist and professor of astronomy.
• Sarah Welcher: award-winning costume designer.
• Tyler Welcher: professional mixed martial arts fighter.
• Anna Welcher: British actress.
• Samantha Welcher: American rhythmic gymnast.
• Marianna Welcher: Salt Lake City-based contemporary artist whose work explores theavant garde.
• Louis Welcher: award-winning world-renowned sculptor.
• Emma Welcher: bestselling author and vegan health coach.
• Bruce Welcher: stand-up comedian and actor.
• Ruth Welcher: Grammy Nominiee country singer-songwriter.
• Michael Welcher: Emmy award winning producer.
• Joshua Welcher: star defensive tackle for the NFL.
• Daniel Welcher: Houston-based attorney and public speaker.
• Justin Welcher: professional mixed martial artist.
• Tricia Welcher: Los Angeles-based actress.
• Samuel Welcher: financial consultant and entrepreneur.
• Ernest Welcher: renowned evolutionary biologist.

Other surnames

Welch