Raucher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Raucher

What does the name Raucher mean?

The ancestral home of the Raucher family is in the German province of Bavaria. Raucher is a German nickname surname. Such names came from eke-names, or added names, that described their initial bearer through reference to a physical characteristic or other attribute. It is a name for a shaggy or unkempt person, stemming from the German word "rauch," meaning "rough, hairy." As with many early names such as this, the reference was often in jest. More likely, the origin is in reference to the smoke generated by smithies and thereby would be a trade name. The name was translated to English when the first settlers immigrated to North America, giving rise to such variations as "Smoak" or "Smoke."

Early Origins of the Raucher family

The surname Raucher was first found in Bavaria, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. Literally, the name refers to the smoke generated by smithies. For instance, a smith in Zurich was known as "Meister Roeuchli," literally "Mister Smoke," around 1468. The various branches of the Rauch and Raeuchlin families declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region.

Early History of the Raucher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Raucher research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1522, 1740, 1743, 1745, 1808 and 1814 are included under the topic Early Raucher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Raucher Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Raucher include Raucher, Rauche, Raeuchlin, Reuchlin, Raeuchle, Rauck, Raucker, Raucke, Rauk, Rauker, Rauke, Smoak, Smoke, Ruch and many more.

Early Notables of the Raucher family

Johannes Reuchlin (1455-1522), who was, together with his friend Erasmus, the driving force behind the German Renaissance. He began as a lawyer in the service of the Duke of Wuerttemberg, became a judge of the Swabian league, contributed to the reinterest in Greek studies, and...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Raucher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Raucher migration to the United States +

Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Raucher or a variant listed above:

Raucher Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Zerech Raucher, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Walham, Russia, in 1906
Franz Raucher, aged 5, who landed in America from Essek, Hungary, in 1907
Marjem Leic Raucher, aged 24, who settled in America from Ozjedoko, Austria, in 1907
Therezia Raucher, aged 46, who settled in America from Essek, Austria, in 1908
Marie Raucher, aged 19, who landed in America from Cornol, Switzerland, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Raucher (post 1700) +

Herman Raucher (b. 1928), American author and screenplay writer, best known for his "Summer of '42" and "The Great Santini"