| ![Show Contents]() Kercher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Kercher first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in the area of Kirkshaw at Rochdale in the county of Lancashire. Kercher is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. Early Origins of the Kercher familyThe surname Kercher was first found in Lancashire where it is a local name 'of Kirkshaw,' in the parish of Rochdale. Literally the place name means "church-wood." Some of the earliest records of the name include: Matthew de Kyrkshagh, Lancashire in 1281; Geoffrey del Kyrkeshagh, of Rochdale parish in 1390; and John de Kyrkshagh, or Kershaw, of Townhouses, in Rochdale, 1424. 1 Early History of the Kercher familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kercher research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1572, 1617 and 1630 are included under the topic Early Kercher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kercher Spelling VariationsOne relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Kercher has appeared include Kershaw, Kercher, Kershow, Kirshaw, Kirkshaw and others. Early Notables of the Kercher familyMore information is included under the topic Early Kercher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Kercher migration to the United States | + |
At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Kercher arrived in North America very early:
Kercher Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Johann Philip Kercher, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1742 2
- Reinhart Dietrich Kercher, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 2
- Catharina Kercher, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1764 2
Kercher Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Daniel Kercher, who landed in New York in 1820 2
- L Kercher, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 2
- Philipp Kercher, aged 48, who arrived in New York in 1854 2
| Kercher migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Kercher Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- George Kercher, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Mount Stuart Elphinstone" in 1851 3
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- 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)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MOUNT STUART ELPHINSTONE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851MountStuartElphinstone.gif
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Kercher migration to the United States 
Kercher migration to Australia 
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