Explore the Family Name Letcher
The meaning of Letcher
1. English: occupational name from Middle English lecher, lechour, lichour ‘physician’, a derivative of the verb lechen, lichen ‘to cure, treat with medicines’. 2. English: nickname from Middle English lech(o)ur, lecher, lichour ‘debauchee, glutton, rake, lecher, paramour’ (Old French lecheor). 3. English: topographic name for someone who lived by a stream or wet place, Middle English leche, lache + -er. This type of name is found mainly in the most southerly English counties, especially Hampshire, Surrey, and Sussex. Compare Leachman 2. 4. Americanized form of German Letscher.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Letcher in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Letcher has seen an increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked as the 14,966th most popular surname and by 2010, it had risen to the 14,296th position, marking a change of 4.48%. The number of people with this surname also increased from 1,812 in 2000 to 2,094 in 2010, showing a growth rate of 15.56%. Additionally, the proportion of individuals with the Letcher surname per 100k people slightly rose from 0.67 in 2000 to 0.71 in 2010, indicating a 5.97% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,966 | #14,296 | 4.48% |
| Count | 1,812 | 2,094 | 15.56% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.67 | 0.71 | 5.97% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Letcher
In terms of ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census presents some shifts between 2000 and 2010. While there was no representation from Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native populations in 2000, by 2010 these groups constituted 0.33% and 1.15% of the Letchers respectively. Those identifying as two or more races saw a slight increase from 2.10% to 2.29%. Interestingly, the percentage of Letchers identifying as White decreased slightly from 81.18% to 80.04%, while those identifying as Hispanic experienced a significant increase from 0.94% to 2.63%. The portion of Black Letchers also saw a decrease from 14.90% to 13.56% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 81.18% | 80.04% | -1.4% |
| Black | 14.9% | 13.56% | -8.99% |
| Hispanic | 0.94% | 2.63% | 179.79% |
| Two or More Races | 2.1% | 2.29% | 9.05% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 1.15% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.33% | 0% |