Thatcher is an English occupational surname derived from the Old English word "thæccan" meaning "to thatch" or "to cover with thatch." It originally referred to someone who thatched roofs with straw or reed. The name can be traced back to the 13th century in England.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Thatcher dates back to the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is listed as "Robertus le Thaccher" in Oxfordshire. This indicates that the name was already in use as an occupational descriptor during the medieval period in England.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various spellings such as "Thakker," "Thacchere," and "Thetchere" in records from different parts of England, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Thatcher was Thomas Thatcher, a Puritan minister born in 1620 in England. He emigrated to New England in 1635 and became the first minister of the Old South Church in Boston.

Another historical figure with the name Thatcher was George Thatcher, an English-born American soldier and statesman who served as a brigadier general during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).

In the 19th century, Henry Thatcher was a prominent American educator and theologian who served as the president of Ohio University from 1851 to 1854.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the name Thatcher was Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013), the British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. She was the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century and the first woman to hold the office.

Another notable individual with the name Thatcher was Marcus Thatcher (1905-1998), an American actor and singer who appeared in various films and television shows throughout the mid-20th century.

While the name Thatcher originated as an occupational surname, it has been adopted as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries. The name's association with Margaret Thatcher and her significant political legacy may have contributed to its popularity as a first name in recent decades.