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Bechard is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest in 1066. It 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
The surname Bechard 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
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bechard 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 Bechard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Bowker, Bowcher, Boucher and others.
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 Bechard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Bechard is the 17,456th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6 However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Bechard is ranked the 882nd most popular surname. 7 And in France, the name Bechard is the 5,454th popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 8
Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Bechard name or one of its variants: