Kitcher

This is an Olde English or Anglo-Saxon pre 10th Century name which has two possible origination. The first is from the word "Cyta", and describes 'the cat' or perhaps more specifically a wild cat! As such the later surname commenced as a nickname and one which was generally given either to somebody who possessed the attributes of a wild cat, or given the robust humour of the period, probably the reverse! One can never be certain about the precise meanings of 13th century nicknames, a good example being the famous 'Little John' of Robin Hood fame. Little John was the tallest or largest person in the band of outlaws. A second origin is occupational and derives from "Kitchen", and such would have described somebody who worked in a kitchen, probably at a monastery, castle, or similar. Perhaps not surprisingly the name has never been other than rare, and early records are fairly sparce. However, the name development does include Waltor Kyttor in 1604, James Kitter in 1606, and Katherine Kitcher in 1641, all in London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry Kecher, which was dated April 18th 1571, a witness at St Katherines by the Tower, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, known as 'Good Queen Bess', 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.