SPATCHERs (occasionally spelled SPACHER) were in the registers of Stowe from the start (1580). Outside of Stowe it's an incredibly rare name, up until the 19th century. I'm trying to find the surname's meaning/origins and to find out if there were SPATCHERs in north Bucks before 1580 - and I'm having trouble on both counts. Can anyone help? Anyone with a good surname dictionary or guide to surname etymology who could do a lookup please? The online reference sources I've tried don't include the name. Does anyone have any knowledge of the Stowe area pre-1580 who can guide on best places to look for earlier SPATCHERs? Any ideas or advice much appreciated. Celia Renshaw in Chesterfield UK