Butcher is a common family name in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

but it may have

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

origins. It was originally an occupational surname used to identify a person who worked as a

butcher A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat, or participate within any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat and poultry for sale in retail or wholesale food establishm ...

. The name derived from the

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th ...

word ''boucher'' or the

Old French Old French (, , ; Modern French: ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France from approximately the 8th to the 14th centuries. Rather than a unified language, Old French was a linkage of Romance dialects, mutually intel ...

word ''bouchier''.

People with the surname Butcher

Arts and entertainment

A. J. Butcher Andrew James Butcher, better known as A.J. Butcher, is an English writer best known for the futuristic teen spy series, Spy High. Butcher taught English at both Poole Grammar School and Parkstone Grammar School, in Poole, Dorset, and currently ...

, children's writer *

Adam Butcher Adam Butcher (born October 20, 1988) is a Canadian actor. Early life Born in Cambridge, Ontario, Butcher has an older sister, actress Mandy Butcher. Butcher started acting at the age of nine when his aunt (a talent agent) and uncle (a stunt ...

, Canadian film actor *

Bilinda Butcher Bilinda Jayne Butcher (born 16 September 1961) is an English musician and singer-songwriter, best known as a vocalist and guitarist of the shoegaze band My Bloody Valentine. Early life Butcher was born and raised in London and later reloca ...

, vocalist and guitarist of rock band My Bloody Valentine *

Clyde Butcher Clyde Butcher (born September 6, 1942) is an American large-format camera photographer known for wilderness photography of the Florida landscape. He began his career doing color photography before switching to large-scale black-and-white landscap ...

, American photographer * Fanny Butcher, American newspaper writer and literary critic * Goler T. Butcher, American lawyer and professor *Gordon Butcher, Australian member of The Warumpi Band *

Jim Butcher Jim Butcher (born October 26, 1971) is an American author., He has written the contemporary fantasy ''The Dresden Files'', ''Codex Alera'', and '' Cinder Spires'' book series. Personal life Butcher was born in Independence, Missouri, in 1971. H ...

, American fantasy writer *

Jon Butcher Jon Butcher (born May 5, 1955) is an American rock, blues songwriter, guitarist and freelance multimedia producer. Early life Jon A. Toombs, is the elder son of Joan Butts and John A Toombs Sr. In 1967, Jon's stepfather William Butcher move ...

, American singer, guitarist, and producer * Kristin Butcher, Canadian writer and reviewer *

Lisa Butcher Lisa Butcher (born 14 October 1971) is a former English fashion model and TV presenter. Career Butcher won British ''Elles first ''ELLE's Angels'' modelling competition in 1987, judged by Marie Helvin, Laraine Ashton, and photographer Te ...

, English fashion model and TV presenter * Margaret Just Butcher (1913-2000), American educator, writer and civil rights activist * May Butcher, writer * Paige Butcher, Australian fashion model * Raegan Butcher, American poet and singer * Sam Butcher, American artist * Solomon Butcher, American photographer *

Tim Butcher Tim Butcher (born 15 November 1967) is an English author, broadcaster and journalist. He is the author of '' Blood River'' (2007), ''Chasing the Devil'' (2010) and ''The Trigger'' (2014), travel books blending contemporary adventure with history ...

, English journalist and author *

Tom Butcher Thomas Alfred Butcher (born 29 June 1963) is an English actor. He was born in Stamford. Biography Acting career Television Butcher is best known for playing PC Steve Loxton in ''The Bill'' from 1990 to 1997 (with a one-off return in 1999), ...

, English television actor

In sports

Alan Butcher Alan Raymond Butcher (born 7 January 1954) is a former English cricketer who is part of a family known for its strong cricketing connections. Although only selected to play for England on one occasion, he was lauded for his skills in first-cla ...

, English cricketer * Arthur Butcher, English cricketer *

Basil Butcher Basil Fitzherbert Butcher (3 September 1933 – 16 December 2019) was a Guyanese cricketer who played for the West Indies cricket team. He was regarded as a reliable right-handed middle-order batsman in the star-studded West Indian batting line- ...

, West Indian cricketer * Butcher (Surrey cricketer), 18th century English cricketer * David Butcher (cricketer), English cricketer *

Don Butcher Donald Butcher was an English squash player, and the first player to win the British Open men's title in open play. Butcher was a professional squash player based at the Conservative Club in London when he played in the first British Open fin ...

, English professional squash player *

Donnie Butcher Donnis "Donnie" Butcher (February 8, 1936 – October 8, 2012) was an American basketball player. A 6'1" guard from Pikeville College, Butcher was selected by the New York Knicks in the seventh round of the 1961 NBA Draft The 1961 NBA draft wa ...

, American NBA basketball player and coach *

Garth Butcher Garth Butcher (born January 8, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Butcher was a top prospect as a junior player and was a member of the first Canadian team to win gold at the world junior championship. Butcher played in ...

, Canadian NHL hockey player * Gary Butcher, English cricketer * Harry Butcher (racing driver), American race car driver * Ian Butcher, English cricketer * Jason Butcher, American mixed martial artist *

Mark Butcher Mark may refer to: Currency * Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina * East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic * Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927 * Fi ...

, English cricketer * Max Butcher, American baseball pitcher * Mike Butcher (baseball), American baseball pitcher and coach *

Necro Butcher Dylan Keith Summers (born July 13, 1973), better known by the ring name Necro Butcher, is an American professional wrestler. Throughout the years he has worked for various promotions, including Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro, IWA Mid-South, Pro ...

, nickname of American professional wrestler Dylan Keith Summers * Richard Butcher, English footballer *

Roland Butcher Roland Orlando Butcher (born 14 October 1953) is a former cricket player and coach, who played for England in three Test matches and three One Day Internationals from 1980 to 1981. He is recognised as being the first black cricketer to repre ...

, cricketer *

Rory Butcher Rory Butcher (born 16 March 1987) is a Scottish racing driver from Kirkcaldy; Scotland, currently competing in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) for Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, having made his debut in the BTCC for Motorbase Performanc ...

, Scottish BTCC racing car driver * Susan Butcher, dog musher, multiple winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race *

Terry Butcher Terry Ian Butcher (born 28 December 1958) is an English football manager and former player. He works as an academy coach for Ipswich Town. During his playing career as a defender, Butcher captained the England national team, winning 77 caps ...

, English football manager * Wendell Butcher, American football player *

Will Butcher William Butcher (born January 6, 1995) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for the Texas Stars in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NH ...

, American NHL hockey player

Politicians and diplomats

David Butcher David John Butcher (born 19 September 1948) is a former New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was a Cabinet minister in the Fourth Labour Government. Early life and family Butcher was born in Brighton, England, on 19 September 1948, ...

, New Zealand politician * Herbert Butcher, British politician and Member of Parliament * Jake Butcher, American banker and politician * Samuel Henry Butcher, classical scholar and Member of Parliament *

William Butcher William James Burchell Butcher (24 July 1858 – 24 May 1944), Australian politician, was a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for twelve years. Born in Richmond, Tasmania on 24 July 1858, William Butcher was the son of ...

, Australian politician

Other

* Harry C. Butcher, naval aide to General Dwight D. Eisenhower * John Butcher (disambiguation) * Marjorie V. Butcher, American mathematician * Paul Butcher (disambiguation) * Samuel Butcher (disambiguation) * Stephen Butcher (disambiguation) *

Thomas W. Butcher Thomas Walter Butcher (July 3, 1867 – July 14, 1947) was an American educator most notably for serving as president at what is now known as Emporia State University. Before serving as the Kansas State Normal School's president, Butcher served var ...

,(1867–1947) American academic and university president * Willard C. Butcher, banker

Fictional individuals named Butcher

''EastEnders''

Several characters from the soap opera ''

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the Ea ...

'' have the surname Butcher. *

Bianca Butcher Bianca Jackson (also Butcher) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'' played by Patsy Palmer. The character was introduced by executive producer Leonard Lewis and appeared initially from 1993 to 1999, when Palmer opted ...

* Clare Butcher * Diane Butcher *

Frank Butcher Frank Butcher is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Mike Reid (actor), Mike Reid. Frank makes his first appearance on-screen as a guest character in 1987, but due to a positive viewer reception, he is reintr ...

* Jacques Butcher * Janine Butcher * Liam Butcher * Mo Butcher * Morgan Butcher *

Pat Butcher Pat Evans (also Beale, Harris, Wicks and Butcher) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders''. She was played by Pam St Clement from 12 June 1986, just over a year after the show first aired, until her departure on 1 Janua ...

Peggy Butcher Margaret Ann "Peggy" Mitchell (also Butcher) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. Peggy was initially played by Jo Warne when she first appeared in the episode broadcast on 30 April 1991, featuring in 10 episodes. ...

Ricky Butcher Ricky Butcher is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Sid Owen. Introduced as a school boy in 1988, Ricky is one of the longest-running male protagonists to feature in ''EastEnders''. Owen originally left the r ...

* Sam Butcher * Tiffany Butcher

''Ghosts 2019 TV Series''

* Patrick (Pat) Butcher

''The Boys''

* Baby Butcher ** Ryan Butcher * Becky Butcher ** Becca Butcher *

Billy Butcher William J. "Billy" Butcher, or "Billy the Butcher", is a fictional character and antihero in the comic book and Amazon Prime series '' The Boys'', created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. He is the leader of The Boys, a group of CIA-sponsore ...

* Connie Butcher * Lenny Butcher * Sam Butcher

References

{{Surname, Butcher English-language surnames Occupational surnames English-language occupational surnames