Surname Rancher - Meaning and Origin

Rancher: What does the surname Rancher mean?

The last name Rancher is likely related to a profession in the same way that names like Baker, Smith, or Fisher are. It suggests that the ancestors of a person with this surname would have been involved in the occupation of ranching. Ranching is a profession involving the raising of livestock, especially cattle or horses, on large plots of land known as ranches. It would have been an important job in rural, agricultural societies, particularly in North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Essentially, a person named Rancher would be descended from a long line of ranchers, illustrating their deep connection to the land and livestock. Moreover, the family holding this name might have played a significant part in the development and persistence of rural communities. It's worth noting that meanings of surnames can vary based on geographical origin and shifts in language over time, but the occupational hint provided by this surname is a reasonable interpretation.

Rancher: Where does the name Rancher come from?

The last name Rancher is a fairly common French surname, and can be found in many countries around the world with French-speaking populations. The surname is also quite common in the United States and Canada, particularly in the western states and in Quebec. It can typically be found in locations that were settled by French-speaking colonists during the colonial period, especially where land was available for farming and animal husbandry.

In the US, Rancher is most common in California, followed by Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada. The surname is also particularly common in Louisiana, where many of the colonists who settled the state were of French descent. It is also present in large numbers in Massachusetts, and in fancy New England cities like Boston.

In Canada, Rancher can primarily be found in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. However, records show that the surname is also present in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. In Quebec especially, the surname is quite prominent as French Canadians make up a large proportion of the population in the region.

Given the historic prevalence of Rancher in French-speaking regions, it is reasonable to conclude that the surname continues to be quite common in these areas today.

Variations of the surname Rancher

The surname Rancher is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name Rance, a variant of the name Randall. Other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are:

Ranch, Ranches, Rancourt, Ranck, Ranco, Rancker, Ranchert, Ranchero, Rancourt, Rancieri, Rancke, Rank, Ranks, Ranker, Rankor, Rancoeur, Rand, Rands, Rande, Randell, Randel, Randle, Ranee, Raney, Raneyre, Rans, Ransche, Ranscher, Ranschor, Rasure, Rasuree, Raster, and Rastor.

The variants of the surname help to trace its roots to European countries like France, Scotland, and Italy. The earliest variants of the name appear to have originated in France, evolving from Rancoeur, to Rancher and Rancourt. It was first introduced to Scotland around the 16th century, and early records there suggest it had derived from the Norman name Rand. In Italy, the surname had gradually evolved from Rancieri and Rancucci.

In the United States, the surname is significantly more common, showing up in the 1790 census in Pennsylvania. It is also seen as Ranck, Ranco, and Rank in that same year. Variants of this surname can be found in nearly every state now. Its standardized spellings, like Rancher, Rank, and Rand, can also be found in many states.

Famous people with the name Rancher

• Garrett Rancher: American journalist and host of the Fox News Channel's Special Report with Bret Baier
• Bret Rancher: country music singer and songwriter
• Charlie Rancher: former Los Angeles Laker basketball player
• Sam Rancher: actor, known for his roles in The Cable Guy, Runaway Bride, and Miss Congeniality
• Tom Rancher: Australian singer-songwriter, best known for his singles "Y'all Ready for This" and "Handyman"
• Kristen Rancher: award-winning country music artist
• Kyle Rancher: American songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist
• Sean Rancher: multiple Grammy-nominated record producer and audio engineer
• Mark Rancher: former NASCAR driver and team owner
• Chris Rancher: American actor, director and producer, best known for his roles in Sons of Anarchy and The Expendables

Other surnames

Ranch