Lurcher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Lurcher

What does the name Lurcher mean?

The name Lurcher reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Lurcher is for a bowman or archer. The surname Lurcher was originally derived from the Old French word archer, and the preposition le, which means the, which is abbreviated to l' when placed next to a vowel, as in l'archer.

Early Origins of the Lurcher family

The surname Lurcher was first found in Derbyshire and Nottingham, where they were granted lands by King William, Duke of Normandy, for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. William L'Archairus, was General of bowmen for Duke William, and he was granted the Hundred of Sunburne in Hampshire in the year 1086. He was so recorded in the Domesday Book. Both William L'Archer and his son were, according to Barlow, and his "Peerage of England," at the Conquest.

Early History of the Lurcher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lurcher research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1778 is included under the topic Early Lurcher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lurcher Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Lurcher are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Lurcher include Larcher, Lercher, Lurcher, Larchier and others.

Early Notables of the Lurcher family

More information is included under the topic Early Lurcher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lurcher family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Lurcher, or a variant listed above: Joseph Larcher who landed in North America in 1771.

The Lurcher 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: Sola bona quae honesta
Motto Translation: Those things only are good which are honest.