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*[[Jane Fletcher (writer)]] (born 1956), English author of lesbian fiction
*[[Jane Fletcher (writer)]] (born 1956), English author of lesbian fiction
*[[Jason Fletcher]] (1975), American sports agent
*[[Jason Fletcher]] (1975), American sports agent
*[[Jean de la Flèche]] (c.1030 – c.1097), 11th-century French nobleman
*[[Jean de la Flèche]] (c.1030 – c.1097), Fletcher progenitor and 11th-century French nobleman
*[[Joan Bamford Fletcher]] (1909–1979), Canadian member of the [[First Aid Nursing Yeomanry]]
*[[Joan Bamford Fletcher]] (1909–1979), Canadian member of the [[First Aid Nursing Yeomanry]]
*[[Joe Fletcher (referee)|Joe Fletcher]], former FIFA professional referee
*[[Joe Fletcher (referee)|Joe Fletcher]], former FIFA professional referee

Revision as of 23:46, 10 May 2024

Fletcher
Arrows
Language(s)Middle English
Origin
MeaningRegional and occupational name for an arrowsmith or seller of arrows
Region of originFrench (La Flèche), England, Scotland, Ireland

Fletcher is a Anglo-Norman surname of French, English, Scottish and Irish origin. The name is a regional (La Flèche) and an occupational name for an arrowsmith (a maker and or seller of arrows), derived from the Old French flecher (in turn from Old French fleche "arrow").[1][2] The English word was borrowed into the Goidelic languages[citation needed], leading to the development of the Scottish name "Mac an Fhleisteir" (also spelt "Mac an Fhleisdeir"),[3][4] "the arrowsmith's son."

Fletcher was not necessarily the surname of a fletcher or arrowsmith. The progenitor of the name was Jean de la Flèche, a Norman noble from La Flèche, where he became its first seigneur (lord) and held its original castle. He married Paula of Maine, daughter of the Count of Maine. They were the parents of Elias I, Count of Maine and a great grandfather of King Henry II. Jean de la Flèche was given land in England for services by William the Conqueror and some of his decedents and family settled in Yorkshire, England following the Norman Conquest. Not all of the family emigrated to England following the Conquest, as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists one Robert Flechier in Normandy in the year 1198.

There is a record of a Robert le Flecher in 1203 (in the "Assize Court Rolls of Staffordshire", during the reign of King John), William Flecher’ also in 1203 and Peter le Flechier in 1227. The name is often confused with Flesher[1] because of the phonetic similarity.

People

Fictional characters

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Reaney, Percy Hilde; Wilson, Richard Middlewood (2006). A Dictionary of English Surnames (3rd ed.). London: Routledge. pp. 1183–1184. ISBN 0-203-99355-1.
  2. ^ "Fletcher Name Meaning and History". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  3. ^ "Rannsaich an Stòr-dàta Briathrachais Gàidhlig".
  4. ^ "Mac an Fhleisteir".