Contents [hide]

Boucher History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Boucher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

The name Boucher reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Boucher family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest in 1066. Boucher is a name for a person who was a butcher. 1 So as to confirm this, we found "Rogerus filius Johannis de Burton, de Eton in le Clay, boucher (1343)" 2

However, the name could also be derived the family's original place of residence, Beaucir, in Calvados, Normandy. 3

Early Origins of the Boucher family

The surname Boucher was first found in Essex where Robert, John de Burser, Bousser 1285, 1303, Burghcher 1349. These entries were recorded at Bourchier's alias Bouchier's Hall in Aldham, Essex. Continuing early Essex entries, we found: John de Bourchier 1311; Bouchier's Grange in Great Coggeshall (Essex), John de Bousser 1326; Bouchiers Chapel in Tollesbury (Essex), John de Bousser 1328; Bourchier's Hall in Messing (Essex), and John de Busser 1309; Boarstye Farm and Bowser's Hall in Rivenhall (Essex).

"The Bouchers were well-known Bristol merchants in the 16th and 17th centuries, and frequently filled the offices of mayor and sheriff of the city; they were intrepid Royalists, and suffered death in the cause." 4

Other records of the family were found in the Writs or Parliament of 1300 where Elias le Borcher was listed at that time. The same rolls but listed later included John le Bocher, temp. 1500. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed the Bocher spelling as being more popular at that time as Adam Bocher and Richard Bocher were listed in that rolls. 5

Early History of the Boucher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boucher research. Another 49 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1306, 1312, 1314, 1315, 1317, 1319, 1320, 1330, 1454, 1455, 1461, 1467, 1471, 1474, 1486, 1533, 1620, 1632, 1642, 1643, 1648 and 1660 are included under the topic Early Boucher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boucher Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Bowker, Bowcher, Boucher and others.

Early Notables of the Boucher family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John de Bourchier or Boussier (d. 1330) the English judge, first mentioned as deputed by Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford, to represent him in the parliament summoned in 1306 for the purpose of granting an aid on the occasion of the Prince of Wales receiving knighthood. In 1312 he was permitted to postpone the assumption of the same rank for three years in consideration of paying a fine of 100s. In 1314-1315 he appears as one of the justices of assize for the counties of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, and his name...
Another 451 words (32 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boucher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boucher World Ranking

In the United States, the name Boucher is the 1,018^th most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Boucher is ranked the 47^th most popular surname with an estimated 39,307 people with that name. 7 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Boucher is the 20^th popular surname. 8 France ranks Boucher as 152^nd with 20,869 people. 9

Boucher migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Boucher or a variant listed above:

Boucher Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Andrew Boucher, who landed in Virginia in 1650 10
George Boucher, who arrived in Maryland in 1651 10
John Boucher, who landed in Virginia in 1666 10
Adam Boucher, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 10
Ab Boucher, who landed in Maryland in 1676 10

Boucher Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jean Boucher, who landed in Jamestown, Va in 1700 10
Elizabeth Boucher, who settled in Rappahannock, Virginia, in 1728
Hans Ulrich Boucher, who settled in Philadelphia in 1732
Ulrigg Boucher, aged 45, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 10
John Boucher, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1743 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Boucher Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Boucher, who arrived in New York, NY in 1806 10
Miss Boucher, aged 30, settled in New Orleans in 1822
Alfred Boucher, who arrived in New York, NY in 1839 10

Boucher migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Boucher Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Gaspard Boucher, who arrived in Quebec in 1634
François Boucher , son of Marin and Julienne, who married Florence Gareman, daughter of Pierre and Charlotte, in Quebec on 3rd September 1641 11
François Boucher, son of Guillaume and Adriane, who married Anne Lépine, daughter of Jacques and Noémie, in Quebec on 21st April 1664 11
Pierre Boucher, son of François and Florence, who married Hélène Gaudry, daughter of Nicolas and Agnès, in Quebec on 13th December 1671 11
Jean Boucher, son of Denis and Jeanne, married Madeleine Paré, daughter of Robert and Françoise, in Saint-Anne, Quebec on 12th November 1678 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Boucher Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Alexis Boucher, son of Charles and Marguerite, who married Geneviève Martin, daughter of Yves and Marie, in Berthierville, Quebec on 25th February 1732 11
Prisque Boucher, son of Joseph and Dorothée, who married Josephte Saucier, daughter of Louis and Cécile, in Kamouraska, Quebec on 22nd November 1762 11
Antoinne Boucher, son of Etienne and Margerite, who married Geneviève Baron, daughter of Philippe and Geneviève, in Saint-Antoine, Quebec on 21st January 1771 11
Benjamin Boucher, son of Louis and Madeleine, who married Geneviève Casista-Bachlet, daughter of Pierre and Geneviève, in Rivière-Ouelle, Quebec on 26th January 1778 11

Boucher Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Martin Boucher who was a Seaman aboard the ship "Aberdeen" taking passenger to Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died at Grosse Isle in 1847 in the typhus epidemic 12

Boucher migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Boucher Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Boucher, (b. 1803), aged 16, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1853 13
Thomas Boucher, a waterman, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mr. John Boucher, (b. 1780), aged 49, English shepherd who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 1st October 1829, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
Robert James Boucher, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Buckinghamshire" in 1839 15
Julia Boucher, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Abberton" in 1846 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Boucher migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Boucher Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Catherine Boucher, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cresswell" in 1856
Mary Boucher, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cresswell" in 1856
E. Boucher, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wyvern" in 1856
Mr. Dudley Boucher, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lady Jocelyn" arriving in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand on 2nd January 1881, en-route to Auckland, New Zealand 17

Boucher migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 18

Boucher Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Jerreard Boucher, who settled in Barbados with his servants in 1680

Boucher Settlers in West Indies in the 20th Century

Mr. William Henry Boucher, (b. 1877), aged 26, Cornish miner, from Carn Brea, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Etruria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 11th July 1903 en route to Cuba 19

Contemporary Notables of the name Boucher (post 1700) +

Brian Boucher (b. 1977), American professional (NHL) ice hockey goaltender
Joan I. Boucher, American politician, Representative from New Jersey 12th District, 1990 20
Jean Charles Boucher, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Maine State Senate 4th District, 1943-46; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maine, 1944; Member of Maine Democratic State Committee, 1945 20
Hiram A. Boucher (1896-1967), American politician, U.S. Consul in Dublin, 1924-27; Cobh, 1928-29; Rome, 1929-36; Geneva, 1936-41; Auckland, 1941-45; U.S. Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, 1945-47 20
Henry Aristide Boucher (1921-2009), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska, 1966-70; Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, 1970-74 20
George V. Boucher, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1968; Circuit Judge in Michigan 17th Circuit, 1971-85 20
Frederick C. Boucher (b. 1946), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Virginia State Senate 39th District, 1974-83; U.S. Representative from Virginia 9th District, 1983- 20
Edward M. Boucher, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Westport, 1946 20
Drayton R. Boucher, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Louisiana State Senate, 1950; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Louisiana, 1956 20
Anthony Boucher, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Columbia County, 1833 20
... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 62)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Buckinghamshire.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABBERTON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Abberton.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html