Pilcher  Pages

The crest of Thomas Pilcher 1557-1587
Born at Battle, Sussex 1557, M.A. Oxford 1579 Fellow of Balliol, Ordained Laon - 3rd March 1583, Martyred Dorchester 21st March 1587
Beatified Rome 22 November 1987

I have registered the name with the Guild of One-Name Studies, membership number 2524. All information re the family name is of value, as I hope one day to linkup as many families as possible!

Firstly, the meaning of the name: the modern name PILCHER derives from the old English word pylace (pilch) meaning an outer garment of skin dressed with hair - a 'Pilcher' therefore being a maker or seller of pilohes.

In early records the name is found as PULLOHARE, PILCHERE,FYLECHERE, PILICHER and often with the prefix 'it' - as with "Reynold isPilechera" (i.e. Reynold the Pilcher) recorded in Sussex in 1292.

In the Mediaeval period the name is found most frequently in records for the County of Sussex, but by late Tudor times it was concentrated mainly in East Kent.

About 60% of all PILCHERs in England were in East Kent. This statistic on the basis of the returns made to the General Register Office during the1640's.

In the Western half of the County. PILCHERS seem to have been centred around the lower Medway valley - since at leant 1393 when a Ric Pucher is known to have died at Mailing.

In the 1840s the majority of Pilcher families lived in the County of Kent.

In the 1881 census, most Pilchers were to be found in Kent, slightly less in Sussex, fewer in the other Home Counties - with the remainder scattered around the UK.

Family history is like a giant jigsaw puzzle, with thousands of 'pieces'on the sidelines, awaiting the opportunity to fit into the right 'spot' onthe puzzle. when completed, it makes a wonderful picture. Trouble is.you've got to find the pieces first, then assemble them bit by bit. I hope you will help me fit some of the pieces together