Fulcher Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Fulcher Origin:
England

Origins of Fulcher:
This interesting surname is of early English origin and acquired from a Germanic particular name combination of the components “folk”, people and “hari, heri”, army.  The name introduced into England by the Normans after the Invasion of 1066.  Isolated examples of the name may acquire from the Old English pre 7th Century “Folchere”, or the Old Norse “Folkar”, of uncertain origin, but these names were far less common.  The personal name first noted as “Fulcher” in the Domesday Book of 1086.  The surname advancement since 1167 includes the following as Peter Fulker (1212, Wiltshire), Eustace Folchir (1212, Hampshire), Nicholas Fuker (1234, Devonshire) and Warin Fucher (1235, Essex).  The new surname can have appeared as Fulcher, Fulger, Fo(u)lger, Fulker and Folker, and mainly appeared in East Anglia.  Among the records in Norfolk is the christening of Richard, son of Matthew Fulcher, in February 1566 at St. Peter’s, Forncett, and the wedding of Edward Fulcher and Cicely Thorp in September 1612 at All Saints, Norwich.

Variations:
More common variations are: Foulcher, Fullcher, Fulcheri, Fulcheer, Fualcher, Flcher, Fulchr, Fulchieri, Fulchiero, Flecher.

England:
The surname Fulcher first appeared in Lincolnshire and Derbyshire where they were given lands about the time of William the Champion. Historically, the Fulchers known as the Champions of Burgundy and recordings appeared of the name spelt Fulchere in Normandy (1180-1195).  The name could have also acquired from the Ango-Saxon word folgere”, in other words, a follower, an attendant, a free-man who did not have a house of his own.

The very first recorded spelling of the family was shown to be that of Roger Fulchier, dated about 1167,  in the “Pipe Rolls of Hampshire”.  It was during the time of King Henry II who was known to be the “The Builder of Churches”, dated 1154 – 1189.  The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation.  It came to be known as Poll Tax in England.  Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling varieties of the original one.

Ireland:
Many of the people with surname Fulcher had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

United States of America:
Individuals with the surname Fulcher landed in the United States in three different centuries respectively in the 17th, 18th, and 19th.  Some of the people with the name Fulcher who arrived in the United States in the 17th century included John Fulcher, who purchased land in Virginia in 1652.

People with the surname Fulcher who landed in the United States in the 18th century included William Fulcher, who immigrated to Virginia in 1773.

The following century saw much more Fulcher surnames arrive.  Some of the people with the surname Fulcher who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included Joshua Fulcher, who immigrated to Texas in 1835.

Canada:
Individuals with the surname Fulcher settled in Canada in the 19th century.  Some of the individuals with the surname Fulcher who came to Canada in the 19th century included David Fulcher, who noted in the 1871 census of Ontario.

Australia:
Some of the individuals with the surname Fulcher who landed in Australia in the 19th century included Thomas Fulcher, English convict from Norfolk, who was transported aboard the “Arab” in February 1834, settling in Van Diemen’s Land, Australia.

New-Zealand:
Some of the population with the surname Fulcher who arrived in New Zealand in the 19th century included Patience Fulcher arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Dunedin” in 1875.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Fulcher:
United States 7,732; England 2,086; Canada 531; Australia 516; Philippines 451; Brazil 191; New Zealand 144; France 122; South Africa 91; Wales 68

Notable People:
William Marcus Fulcher (born February 1934) is an old American football player and coach.  He played college football at the Georgia Institute of Technology and then for the Washington Redskins in the National Football League.  He served as head football coach at the University of Tampa in 1971 and his mater, Georgia Tech, in 1972 and 1973.

Byron Fulcher was a trombonist.
Colin Fulcher, aka Barney Bubbles, was a graphic artist.
David Fulcher was an old American Football player.
Jonni Fulcher was a pocket billiard player.
Mondriel Fulcher was an American football player.
Rich Fulcher was an American comedy performer.
Russ Fulcher was a Republican member of the Idaho Senate.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Notes: (co. Derby). Blazon: Ermine on a bend gules three plates. Crest—A demi lion holding an anchor proper.