Thacher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Thacher is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was originally a name for someone who worked as a person who worked as the thatcher. This surname was a derivative of the Old English word paeccan which literally meant to cover. The meaning later changed and referred to the task of thatching roofs.
Early Origins of the Thacher family
The surname Thacher was first found in Essex where they held a family seat from very ancient times, before and after the Conquest in 1066.
Early History of the Thacher family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thacher research. Another 52 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1536, 1558 and 1565 are included under the topic Early Thacher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Thacher Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Thacher are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Thacher include Thatcher, Thacker, Thaxter and others.
Early Notables of the Thacher family
More information is included under the topic Early Thacher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Thacher family to Ireland
Some of the Thacher family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Thacher migration to the United States +
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Thacher or a variant listed above:
Thacher Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Anthony Thacher, who arrived in Marblehead, Massachusetts in 1635 1
- Thomas Thacher, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1635 1
- Samuel Thacher, who arrived in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1642 1
- Silvester Thacher, who landed in Virginia in 1650 1
Thacher Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Elijah Thacher, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1767 with his servant
Thacher Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- F Thacher, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 1
- M Thacher, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 1
Thacher migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Thacher Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Mr. John Thacher U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1786 he served in the New Jersey Volunteers 2
Contemporary Notables of the name Thacher (post 1700) +
- Thomas Chandler Thacher (1858-1945), American politician, U.S. Representative from Massachusetts (1913-1915)
- Thomas Day Thacher (1881-1950), American lawyer and jurist, President of the New York City Bar Association
- Thomas Thacher (1850-1919), American lawyer, son of Thomas Anthony Thacher
- Sherman Day Thacher (1861-1931), American founder and headmaster of The Thacher School at Ojai, California, son of Thomas Anthony Thacher
- Thomas Anthony Thacher (1815-1886), American classicist and college administrator at Yale College
- John Boyd Thacher II (1882-1957), American politician, Mayor of Albany, New York from 1926 to 1941
- John Boyd Thacher (1847-1909), American politician, Mayor of Albany, New York and New York State Senator
- Jeffrey Thomas Thacher (b. 1967), American musician, best known for his work with the vocal group Rockapella
- James Thacher (1754-1844), American physician and writer
- Edwin Throckmorton Thacher (1896-1966), American co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous
Citations +
- 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)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X