This surname is derived from a nickname. 'belsire,' grandfather, or perhaps belchtre, good friend; compare Bellamy, Bowsher, and Bonamy.

'Lo, here is the belschere broght that ye bad bring': York Mystery Plays.

'Belsyre, or belfather, faders or moders fader, arms': Promptorium Parvulorum See also Belsire (H.E.D).

Richard Belcchere, Gloucestershire, 1373. Hundred Rolls.

John Belsire, Kent, ibid.

Leonard Belshyre, squire bedell, Oxford, 1553: Register of the University of Oxford.

William Belsher, sheriff of Bristol, 1563: History and Antiquities of Bristol.

1673. Buried — Katherine Bellshar: St. Thomas the Apostle (London).

1783. Married — Walter Belchar and Mary Ware: St. George, Hanover Square.

O French bel chere, good company. So Boncompagnon, and our own Goodfellow, &c.

(Old French.) Bel—chère, good cheer, fine entertainment; a happier name than to be a Belcher, and swell with pride or passion.

Belcher is a name also found in Oxfordshire and Berks. The mayor of Cambridge in 1732 was thus named (Carter's "Cambridgeshire").

Belcher has long been an Oxfordshire name. It was established in Enstone in the 16th and 17th centuries (J.). William Belcher, yeoman, of Steeple Aston, presented his son, Thomas Belcher, to the incumbency of Westcot Barton in 1640 (Wi.). Samuel Belcher, apothecary, died at Deddington in 1668 (Marshall's "Deddington.").