The Pilcher surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 5,391 people carried this name — #6,329 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 54,600 people counted. That is up 2% from 5,302 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Pilcher surname

A surname originating as an occupation.

English surname, from pilch + -er.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Pilcher» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as an occupational name: ‘the pilcher’.

An early record he cites: Hugh le Pilecher, Cambridgeshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Pilcher and Pilger.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 605 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Pilcher was found among the farmers of Kent: 27 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Kent 27

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In print

Pilcher in American newspapers,
1892–1894.

Newspaper page from Western Kansas World carrying the name Pilcher
Western Kansas World 1894-09-01
Newspaper page from The Iola Register carrying the name Pilcher
The Iola Register 1894-08-31
Newspaper page from The Morning Call carrying the name Pilcher
The Morning Call 1892-07-03

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 33,986 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Pilcher in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

26,984 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Pilcher. The most, 6,796, date from the 1890s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in New South Wales, at 2.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 21,513
Queensland 2,212
Victoria 1,428
South Australia 757
Western Australia 533
Tasmania 482
ACT (Canberra) 37
Northern Territory 10

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Pilcher.

Who carried it

People named Pilcher,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Thomas Pilcher
    Thomas Pilcher 1858–1928 · politician
  • Thomas Pilcher
    Thomas Pilcher 1858–1928 · politician
  • Mary Beatrice Pilcher d. 1940
  • Jane Warton d. 1883
  • Joshua Pilcher 1790–1843
  • George Pilcher 1801–1855 · surgeon

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Pilcher,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States365 records

365 records of the Pilcher name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 190
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 76
  • Other U.S. records 99
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Emmet R. Pilcher

    Born 1916 in Washington. Enlisted 1942 at Missoula, Montana; farm hand from Lake County, Montana. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1999, buried at C E Conrad Cemetery, Kalispell, Montana.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record William George Pilcher

    Born 1946; from Golden City, Missouri. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1967 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record William Pilcher

    Arrived at New York in 1879 aboard the Bothnia from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 29; solicitor. From England.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 365 records for Pilcher in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia456 records

456 records of the Pilcher name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 262
  • Tasmanian Names Index 96
  • Other Australian records 98
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Frank Pilcher

    Died 1924 in Public Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1924.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record George Frederick Pilcher

    Married 1876 in Hamilton, Tasmania, aged 23. Died 1922 in Tasmania, aged 68.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Emma Pilcher

    Arrived in Victoria in 1856 aboard the Royal Charter, aged 22; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 456 records for Pilcher in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

United Kingdom12 records

12 records of the Pilcher name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 11
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Pilcher

    Buried in 1821 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 75.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record F. J. Pilcher

    Lance Corporal, Royal Engineers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record V. Pilcher

    Hampshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 12 records for Pilcher in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Canada11 records

11 records of the Pilcher name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 4
  • Halifax municipal cemeteries 3
  • Other Canadian records 4
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Rose Pilcher

    Buried in 1985 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 92.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Atchison Bruce Pilcher

    Died 1957 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Alan Swaine Pilcher

    Died in service in 1943.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 11 records for Pilcher in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

Netherlands11 records

11 records of the Pilcher name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 10
  • Dutch population registers 1
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Birth record Henry George Pilcher

    Born 1830 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Anna Pilcher

    In the population register of Veere; born in Folktstein.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Birth record William Pilcher

    Born 1827 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 11 records for Pilcher in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

New Zealand5 records

5 records of the Pilcher name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Cecil Godfrey Pilcher

    Died 1968, aged 68; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Oscar Albert Pilcher

    Died 1968, aged 48; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ellen Pilcher

    Died 1966, aged 85; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 5 records for Pilcher in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Germany2 records

2 records of the Pilcher name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Peter Pilcher

    From Lehmen, Mayen. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 5 August 1918.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Pilcher in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Pilcher.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Pilcher is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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