What nationality is the last name "Starcher"?

Question:

What nationality is the last name "Starcher"?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Starcher is a Westphalian-German nickname. Such surnames were very common in Westphalia. They were adapted from traditional eke-names, or added names, that described physical characteristics of their bearers. Starcher is a hereditary surname for a person who was noted for being strong and powerful. The name Starcher was originally derived from the German word "starc," which means "strong."

The German states were home to a diverse assortment of national groups during the medieval era. As a consequence, German surnames were subject to frequent spelling alterations and are distinguished by scores of regional variations. Surnames also evolved and changed with the German language, which was characterized by a multitude of local dialects and divided into the broad language groups of High and Low German. High German became the standard, Modern German language, whereas Low German, which was spoken in Westphalia, is closer to Dutch. Many German surnames may be recognized as belonging to a particular region by their suffixes. It was also common in Germany to add phrases to a name to express something about a person's place of origin, religious background, or character. Furthermore, since very few people were literate in the Middle Ages, names were often recorded in official documents by scribes who transcribed them according to how they sounded, rather than according to uniform spelling rules. The many spelling variations of the name Starcher include Starck, Starcke, Stark, Starke (Lausitz), Staerk, Staerkel, Staerkle and many more.

First found in Westphalia, where the name was associated with the noble family whose seat was in the area around Bochum.

Many Germans emigrated across the Atlantic to seek better lives in North America. This great migration began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century. Resettlement was particularly attractive to those from Westphalia as a means of escape from poverty and religious persecution. For many Westphalian farmers, the chance to own one's own land was also a major incentive. The process of the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlements centered around Ontario and the Prairie provinces. Johann Georg Starck, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1753. Johann Ludwig Starck came in 1771; while Conrad, Dorothea, Christiana, and Margaret Starck all arrived in New Orleans in 1820. Jacob Stark came to Philadelphia in 1750.