Pitcher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 


When the ancestors of the Pitcher family arrived in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066, they brought their name with them. It is a name for a caulker, one who was employed to seal the hulls of ships with pitch. Another derivation of this name suggests that it originated as a variation on the Norman French personal name Pichere. Pitcher is a classic example of an English polygenetic surname, which is a surname that was developed in a number of different locations and adopted by various families independently.

Early Origins of the Pitcher family

The surname Pitcher was first found in Buckinghamshire where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Pitcher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pitcher research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1066 is included under the topic Early Pitcher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pitcher Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Pitcher, Picher, Pichere and others.

Early Notables of the Pitcher family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Pitcher Ranking

In the United States, the name Pitcher is the 4,767th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Pitcher is ranked the 221st most popular surname with an estimated 196 people with that name. 2



Pitcher migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Pitcher or a variant listed above:

Pitcher Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Pitcher Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Pitcher Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Pitcher migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pitcher Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Pitcher Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Pitcher migration to Australia +

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

Pitcher Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Pitcher 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:

Pitcher Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Pitcher (post 1700) +





The Pitcher Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Perseverentia et labore
Motto Translation: By perseverance and labour





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