Urch

This interesting name, with variant spellings Ullrich, Ulrich and Ulrik, appears to have two possible origins. The most likely origin is that it is a patronymic form of the German personal name "Ulrich" itself coming from the Old High German "Odalric", composed of the elements "odal" - prosperity, fortune and "ric" - power. The first record of the bearer of this personal name was a 10th Century saint, the bishop of Angsbury, whose fame spread its popularity in German and Slavic speaking areas in the Middle Ages. It is also possible that the surname evolved from the Olde English personal name "Wulfric", wolf-powerful, which became widespread after the conquest. "David Ulrick" was recorded in Orkney, Scotland in 1793. In May 1801, Mary Ann Urch, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth, was baptised in the Church of St. Marylebone, St. Marylebone Road, London. Elizabeth Urch married George Player on May 30th 1825 at the Church of St. Paul in Bristol. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Joseph Urch, which was dated April 6th 1777, marriage to Sylvia Owens, in the Records of the Church of St. George, Bristol, during the reign of King George 111, known as "Farmer George", 1780 - 1820. 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.