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Hello Larcher,

My name is Michael Larcher. I created this website to enrich you and your family with information about your name, Larcher. This site contains information for all Larchers of the world. Whether your name is French, English or German in origin - if you have any information that you would like to add to this site please contact me. Tell every Larcher you know about this site, the more information we can get the better this site will be.

The information below is mainly about Larchers of French origin, like myself, but the name also has origin from the Alps during the Roman Empire. If you would like some information on the Roman/German origin of Larcher click here.

Enjoy!!

Prior to the advent of surnames around the 11th century, a person had the need for only one name, their given name. However, due to population growth and increased migration as a result of trade, economic necessity and warfare, a more precise method of identification was needed. Surnames solved this problem. With the growth of documentation in the later Middle Ages, such names became essential and a person whose appellation described his occupation, place of residence, father's name or some personal characteristic passed that name on to his children and the surname became hereditary.

The French surname Larcher is a variant of Archer which is of occupational origin, belonging to that category of surnames derived from the trade or profession pursued by the original bearer of the name. In early times names such as Smith, Baker and Butcher were to be found in each village or town. After a time occupational names became hereditary even though the bearer no longer followed this trade or vocation.

Surnames in France have been used on a hereditary basis from as early as the 12th century, although it was not until the 15th century that the practice of using surnames became common. Prior to this time, a surname may have been handed down for two or three generations, and then abandoned in favour of another.

In this case the name would have been applied to someone who was employed as a bowman. This is derived from the Old French word 'arch(i)er'.

FIRST RECORD IN ENGLAND
L'Archier may have been imported into England during the Norman Conquest of 1066 A.D.The name was first recorded in 1166 in Wiltshire as Edward and William L'Archier, and the name is to be found on the Battel Abbey Rolls. The name later appeared in the Rotundi Oblitus et Finibus, a census of England taken by King John about the year 1210, to determine which of his nobles he could rely on for support. He later signed the Magna Carta in 1214. Richard and Nicholas Archer appeared on this census.

FIRST RECORD IN FRANCE
The surname Larcher and its variants were prominent in early French records which show that the Arquier de Charleval family were members of the nobility in 1611. It was in this century that Louis XIV of France built the world's grandest palace at Versailles. Records also show that Claude-Michel Larche became a knight of the Empire with Letters Patent in 1808 as de Francois Larcher deChamont in the same year.

THE ARCHER The longbow, made of yew, was developed in England during the 13th century. English archers could fire six carefully aimed arrows a minute, each a 'cloth-yard' (1 meter long). They were accurate at a range of up to 320 meters. French archers and other European soldiers used the crossbow. Its bolts (missiles) did not carry as far as longbow's arrows. It was easier to fire than a longbow, but much slower.

1492 AD - Leonardo da Vinci's sketch design of siege crossbow , done when he was employed as a siege engineer in the court of Francis I of France.

FAMOUS LARCHERS
Gerhard Larcher - Professor (with tenure for mathematics), and head of the department, University of Salzburg, AUSTRIA. Awards - Rotary Wissenschaftspreis, Christian Doppler Preis, Kardinal Innitzer Preis, Award of the Austrian Mathematical Society, Edmund und Rosa Hlawka Preis.
Dietmar Larcher - Ph.D., Prof. Ordinarius, member of Department of Educational Science, Klagenfurt University, chairman of Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute for Intercultural Research. Austria. Author of 100 books and articles on educational and psycho-social problems of minorities in bilingual contexts.
Gerard Larcher - President of the Commission, Senator of Yvelines (Island-of-France)
Thomas Larcher - Pianist - composer (one of the best Austrian pianists)
Rolando Larcher - Italian mountain climber
Jean Larcher - French artist and designer. Designer of the font 'Larcher' in the 1970s.
Christian Larcher - Champion athlete 1955-1963 (100m, 200m, and discus).
Laetitia and Stéphanie Larcher - TAEKWONDO CN 1st dan black belt (International champions)
Detlev of Larcher - member of the SPD Bundestag faction
Johannes Larcher - Goto.Com, General Manager, GoTo International


LARCHER LINKS
Chateau Larcher (Castle in France) www.a-castle-for-rent.com/castles/medieval2.htm
Vincent Larcher (Tintin Comic Book) www.coolfrenchcomics.com/vincentlarcher.htm
Heracles, the Archer (French Coin) www.collectors.olympic.org/e/fino/coins/coins_1992_10_e.html
Paul Larcher AG (Transportation company in Wallisellen) http://www.larcher.ch/
Aldo Larcher (Production of pipages in concrete) www.aldolarcher.com
Larcher Palace (Jewellery store) www.degalanta.com
Larcher Font designed by Jean Larcher flashkit.com/fonts/L/Larcher-Harold_L-774/index.shtml
Shelter Cevedale - "G. Larcher" www.sat.tn.it/strutture/rifugi/sat/larcher.htm
AMIENS, a town North of PARIS (Christian Larcher's Personal website) http://larcher.c.free.fr/