Surname Kercher - Meaning and Origin

Kercher: What does the surname Kercher mean?

The last name Kercher is of English origin. It is derived from the Old English name Kyrtcher which had the meaning of church people. This family of English people originally resided in the county of Somerset.

The etymology of the name Kercher is linked to the term “kerscher” which is the Old English word for church people or church members. It is likely that members of this family were connected to the church in some capacity and held positions of respect in their town or village. They were known as devout church members and their surname reflects this.

The Kercher family is an ancient and respected group. Records show that descendents of the Kercher family came to the Americas in the late 1600s. Due to their English background, the Kercher surname still carries prestige today.

The surname Kercher is a distinguished one and many of the Kercher’s who are living today have held wonderful positions in both their communities and organizations throughout history. There are many highly esteemed Kercher’s around the world. They are all united by their rich history and the lasting legacy of the Kercher family name.

Kercher: Where does the name Kercher come from?

The last name Kercher is not especially common, but can be found mainly in England and the United States. The name is believed to have originated from the southwest of England, perhaps in the area of Somerset, where the name originates with the Ancient Britons.

In the United States, the earliest recorded use of the name can be found in the Revolutionary War records of Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Later, in the 19th century, migrants from Britain settled in many parts of the US, bringing the name with them. Records indicate that by the mid-1900s, the last name had spread to the Mid-West and West Coast of the US.

The name Kercher is most common in England today, particularly in the southeast and southwest. English counties where the last name is particularly common include Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire.

Outside of the English-speaking countries, the name Kercher can be found in Scotland, Australia, and Canada. In Australia, the name is most commonly found in the southeastern coastal states of New South Wales and Victoria. In Canada, the name is prevalent in the Atlantic Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

The name Kercher is not especially common across the world. However, it does have some presence across English-speaking countries and can be found to be most prevalent in England, the United States, Australia, and Canada.

Variations of the surname Kercher

Kercher is an English surname that originates from the German name Kercher and has a variety of related surnames and spellings. The base name Kercher can be spelled in several ways, such as Kircher, Kirchner, Kirschner, Kürcher and Kerchner. The German spelling is often used interchangeably with each of the variations while some families have adopted different versions over centuries.

One variant comes from the forensic anthropologist Nancy Elizabeth Krebser, who is of German descent and used the spelling Krebser due to a mistranslation.

Kirchner is a variant that originates from German and is most commonly used as a surname in Germany and Austria. This version is derived from the German word "kirchen" which translates to church. Another variant is Kircher, which is a Dutch spelling attributed to Dutch immigrants who settled in the United States in the 1600s and the 1700s.

The spelling Kirschner is often used by descendants of German immigrants who came to the United States in the 1800s and the 1900s. This version, however, is sometimes used interchangeably with other versions of the same name, such as Kürcher, which is derived from the Old High German word “kurch” meaning a church.

Another variant is Kerchner, which is derived from the Dutch word "kerck" which means church. This spelling has been adopted by many families in the United States, primarily as a result of Dutch immigration.

Overall, Kercher is an English surname with a variety of related spellings and surnames that originated from the German name Kercher. Some of these variants are Kirchner, Kircher, Kirschner, Kürcher and Kerchner. The surname is usually attributed to German immigrants though some family lines have adopted the spelling jointly with the Dutch meaning of “church”.

Famous people with the name Kercher

• Meredith Kercher: Meredith Kercher was an English student who was tragically murdered in 2007 while she was studying abroad in Perugia, Italy.
• Naomi Kercher: Naomi Kercher is a British author of several books, including Breaking Bad: How to Get Away with Murder.
• Amanda Kercher: Amanda Kercher is an American actress and producer who made her film debut in the 1999 hit horror-thriller films I Know What You Did Last Summer and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.
• Diane Kercher: Diane Kercher is a British author known for her children's books.
• Julian Kercher: Julian Kercher is a British playwright with several successful plays in the London West End.
• Vincent Kercher: Vincent Kercher is a British actor who starred in several television series including Doctor Who and Law & Order: UK.
• Victoria Kercher: Victoria Kercher is a British singer-songwriter who appeared on the 2008 series of the reality singing competition The X Factor.
• Daisy Kercher: Daisy Kercher is an American actress, known for her roles in the television series such as 90210 and Charmed.

Other surnames

KerchKerchner