Fletcher

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Fletcher

Gender: Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Fletcher comes from an English surname, from the word “flechier” which referred to a “Maker of Arrows” or a “Seller of Arrows.” It comes from the word “fleche” meaning “arrow.”

History:
Fletcher is another example of an English surname, being transferred for use as a first name.

Originally, it would have been bestowed upon sons as either a first or a middle name in order to honor the Fletcher surname. For example, a woman named Mary Fletcher who married a man named John Smith, may name her son John Fletcher Smith, or merely Fletcher Smith.

Pronunciation: flett-chur.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Fletcher Steele (1885-1971)
American architect.
Fletcher Henderson (1898-1952)
American jazz composer.

Miscellaneous:
Fletcher Christian (1764-1793)
He led the Mutiny on the Bounty.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.008 % of males named Fletcher

0.037 % surnamed Fletcher

Popularity of Fletcher:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 458th most popular.
1875: 298th most popular.
1880: 341st most popular.
1881: 271st most popular.
1882: 389th most popular.
1883: 318th most popular.
1884: 336th most popular.
1885: 355th most popular.
1886: 276th most popular.
1887: 356th most popular.
1888: 297th most popular.
1889: 305th most popular.
1890: 369th most popular.
1891: 318th most popular.
1892: 266th most popular.
1893: 307th most popular.
1894: 349th most popular.
1895: 289th most popular.
1896: 338th most popular.
1897: 306th most popular.
1898: 335th most popular.
1899: 300th most popular.
1900: 284th most popular.
1901: 310th most popular.
1902: 318th most popular.
1903: 330th most popular.
1904: 340th most popular.
1905: 346th most popular.
1906: 400th most popular.
1907: 322nd most popular.
1908: 365th most popular.
1909: 403rd most popular.
1910: 344th most popular.
1911: 398th most popular.
1912: 412th most popular.
1913: 475th most popular.
1914: 469th most popular.
1915: 467th most popular.
1916: 467th most popular.
1917: 457th most popular.
1918: 465th most popular.
1919: 503rd most popular.
1920: 552nd most popular.
1921: 475th most popular.
1922: 510th most popular.
1923: 523rd most popular.
1924: 493rd most popular.
1925: 517th most popular.
1926: 488th most popular.
1927: 518th most popular.
1928: 544th most popular.
1929: 522nd most popular.
1930: 535th most popular.
1931: 595th most popular.
1932: 561st most popular.
1933: 492nd most popular.
1934: 543rd most popular.
1935: 572nd most popular.
1936: 589th most popular.
1937: 565th most popular.
1938: 570th most popular.
1939: 566th most popular.
1940: 614th most popular.
1941: 615th most popular.
1942: 589th most popular.
1943: 630th most popular.
1944: 593rd most popular.
1945: 634th most popular.
1946: 623rd most popular.
1947: 698th most popular.
1948: 580th most popular.
1949: 614th most popular.
1950: 632nd most popular.
1951: 653rd most popular.
1952: 695th most popular.
1953: 709th most popular.
1954: 735th most popular.
1955: 708th most popular.
1956: 855th most popular.
1957: 769th most popular.
1958: 813th most popular.
1959: 898th most popular.
1960: 864th most popular.
1961: 801st most popular.
1962: 893rd most popular.
1963: 866th most popular.
1964: 814th most popular.
1965: 829th most popular.
1966: 878th most popular.
1967: 843rd most popular.
1968: 917th most popular.
1969: 956th most popular.
1970: 914th most popular.
1971: 989th most popular.
1972-1984: N/A
1985: 955th most popular.
1986: 931st most popular.
1987- 2002: N/A
2003: 990th most popular.
2004: 962nd most popular.

Selected Sources:
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999
A Dictionary of English Surnames, Reaney and Wilson, 1990

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)