Fletcher is an Anglo-Norman surname of French, English, Scottish and Irish origin. The name is a regional (La Flèche) and an occupational name for an arrowsmith (a maker and or seller of arrows), derived from the Old French flecher (in turn from Old French fleche "arrow"). The English word was borrowed into the Goidelic languages, leading to the development of the Scottish name "Mac an Fhleisteir" (also spelt "Mac an Fhleisdeir"), "the arrowsmith's son".
While Fletcher was the occupational name, it was more often not the surname of a fletcher or arrowsmith professional. The progenitor of the family was Jean de la Flèche, a Norman noble from La Flèche, where he later succeeded his father to became its second seigneur (lord) and held its original castle. He was the youngest son of Seigneur Lancelin I de Beaugency (the first lord of Beaugency) and he married Paula of Maine, daughter of the Count of Maine. They were the parents of Elias I, Count of Maine and great-grandparents of King Henry II. Jean de la Flèche was granted land in England for services by William the Conqueror and some of his descendents and family settled in Yorkshire, England following the Norman Conquest.
People Aaron Fletcher (born 1996), American baseball player Adam Fletcher (disambiguation), multiple people: Adam F.C. Fletcher (born 1975), author, activist and educator Adam Fletcher (rugby league) (born 1983), rugby league player Alan Fletcher (graphic designer) (1931–2006), British graphic designer Alan Fletcher (actor) (born 1957), Australian actor Anashuya Fletcher (born 1984), New Zealand Anglican bishop Andrew Fletcher (disambiguation), multiple people: Andrew Fletcher, Lord Innerpeffer (died 1650), Scottish judge Andrew Fletcher (patriot) (1653–1716), Scottish writer, politician and patriot Andrew Fletcher, British Member of Parliament for Haddington Burghs Andrew Fletcher, Lord Milton (1692–1766), Scottish judge and Lord Justice Clerk, nephew of the above Andy Fletcher (American football) (1895–1978), American football player Andrew Fletcher (cricketer) (born 1993), New Zealand cricketer Andy Fletcher (rugby league), rugby league footballer of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s Andy Fletcher (umpire) (born 1966), American baseball umpire Andrew Fletcher (businessman), Australian businessman Andy Fletcher (musician) (1961–2022), co-founder and member of the English electronic band Depeche Mode Andrew Almon Fletcher, known as Almon Fletcher (1889–1964), Canadian physician and diabetologist Andre Fletcher (born 1987), Grenadian and West Indies cricketer Anthony Fletcher (1941–2026), English historian Art Fletcher (1885–1950), American baseball player Arthur Fletcher (1924–2005), American government official Arthur Fletcher (rugby league), English rugby league player Ashley Michael Fletcher (born 1995), English professional footballer Banister Fletcher (Senior) (1833–1899), English architect, historian and member of Parliament Sir Banister Fletcher (1866–1953), English architect and historian Barry Fletcher (born 1935), English cricketer Betty Fletcher (1923–2012), American federal judge Blandford Fletcher (1858–1936), British painter Bob Fletcher (1911–2013), California farmer who helped ethnic Japanese neighbors during World War II Bryan Fletcher (disambiguation), multiple people: Bryan Fletcher (rugby league) (born 1974), Australian former rugby league footballer Bryan Fletcher (American football) (born 1979), American football player Bryan Fletcher (skier) (born 1986), American Nordic combined skier C. T. Fletcher (born 1959), American powerlifter, actor, video blogger Cari Fletcher (born 1994), American singer and songwriter known as Fletcher Carl Fletcher (Canadian soccer), footballer born 1971 Carl Fletcher (Welsh footballer), footballer born 1980 Carrie Hope Fletcher (born 1992), English actress, singer, author, blogger, vlogger Charles Fletcher (disambiguation), multiple people: Charles K. Fletcher (1902–1985), U.S. Representative from California Charles Joseph Fletcher (1923–2011), American inventor and businessman Charles Brunsdon Fletcher (1859–1946), English-born Australian surveyor and journalist Charles Tenshin Fletcher, Zen Buddhist Charles Fletcher (composer) (1884–1965), American composer Charles H. Fletcher III, climate scientist Charles Henry Fletcher (1837–1922), American businessman Charles George Fletcher (1890–1959), lawyer and political figure in Ontario Charles L. Fletcher (born 1971), American architectural consultant and interior designer Charles Fletcher (rugby union) Chris Fletcher (born 1948), American football player (San Diego Chargers) Christian Fletcher ( 1619–1691), Scottish minister's wife who helped save the Honours of Scotland Christopher Fletcher (born 1957), English cricket player (Sussex) Christopher D. M. Fletcher (1958–2024), British pathologist Christy Fletcher (1933–1974), Irish football player Colin Fletcher (1922–2007), Welsh-American backpacker and author Coyne Fletcher (c. 1853–1904), Irish-American novelist, playwright Cyril Fletcher (1913–2005), English comedian, actor and businessman Darren Fletcher (born 1984), Scottish footballer Darrin Fletcher (born 1966), American baseball player David Fletcher (disambiguation), multiple people David Fletcher (baseball) (born 1994), American baseball player David Fletcher (bishop) (died 1665), bishop of Argyll in Scotland David Fletcher (cricketer) (1924–2015), British cricketer David Fletcher (cyclist) (born 1989), British cross-country mountain biker and cyclo-cross rider David Fletcher (military historian) (born 1942), British military historian David Fletcher (musician) (1971–2009), British musician David Fletcher (swimmer) (born 1936), swimmer from Northern Ireland Dominic Fletcher (born 1997), American baseball outfielder Duncan Fletcher (born 1948), Zimbabwean cricketer and coach of the England and India cricket teams Dustin Fletcher (born 1975), Australian football player Edward Fletcher (disambiguation), multiple people: Edward Fletcher (engineer) (1807–1889), British engineer and locomotive superintendent Edward Taylor Fletcher (1817–1897), Canadian land surveyor and writer Edward Fletcher (politician) (1911–1983), British Labour Party politician Duke Bootee (Edward G. Fletcher), rapper and hip hop and rap producer Ed Fletcher (1872–1955), American politician Ted Fletcher (1925–2000), Australian rules footballer Elias I, Count of Maine (died 1110), Count of Maine and great-grandfather of Henry II of England Eric Fletcher (1903–1990), English politician and peer Ernie Fletcher (born 1952), governor of Kentucky Fletcher Christian (1764–1793), master's mate on HMS Bounty during William Bligh's voyage to Tahiti Frank Friday Fletcher (1855–1928), admiral in the United States Navy Frank Jack Fletcher (1885–1973), admiral in the United States Navy Freddie Fletcher (born 1950), English actor George Fletcher (disambiguation), multiple people: Sir George Fletcher, 2nd Baronet (1633–1700), English MP for Cumberland 1661–1679, 1681–1685, 1689–1700 George Fletcher (politician) (c. 1666–c. 1708), British MP for Cockermouth and Cumberland 1701–1702, 1705–1708 George Fletcher (baseball) (1845–1879), baseball player George Fletcher (communist) (1879–1958), British communist activist and baker George P. Fletcher (born 1939), American jurist George Latham Fletcher (1874–1929), American jurist and politician George M. Fletcher (1850–1915), American politician George Fletcher (cowboy), American cowboy and rodeo rider Georgina Fletcher, 20th-century women's rights activist active in Colombia Giles Fletcher, the Elder (c. 1548–1611), English poet and diplomat Giles Fletcher (c. 1586–1623), English playwright Guy Fletcher (born 1960), English keyboard player for the band Dire Straits Guy Fletcher (songwriter), English songwriter and session singer Harvey Fletcher (1884–1981), American physicist and inventor Henry Fletcher (disambiguation), multiple people: Sir Henry Fletcher, 1st Baronet, of Hutton le Forest (died 1645) Sir Henry Fletcher, 3rd Baronet, of Hutton le Forest (1661–1712), English MP for Cockermouth Henry Fletcher (engraver) (fl. 1710–1750), English engraver Sir Henry Fletcher, 1st Baronet, of Clea Hall (1727–1807), British MP for Cumberland Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, 4th Baronet (1835–1910), British MP for Horsham and Lewes Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, 6th Baronet (1887–1969), Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire 1954–1961 Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, 8th Baronet (born 1945), Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire since 2006 Henry A. Fletcher (1839–1897), American Civil War veteran and Lieutenant Governor of Vermont Henry Fletcher (mayor) (1859–1953), mayor of Providence, Rhode Island 1909–1913 Henry P. Fletcher (1873–1959), U.S. diplomat and RNC chair Henry Fletcher (cricketer) (1882–1937), English cricketer Henry Fletcher (missionary) (1868–1933), New Zealand missionary and Presbyterian minister Henry Allason Fletcher (1834–1884), English engineer and locomotive designer Henry Fletcher, pen name of Fletcher Hanks Horace Fletcher (1849–1919), American health-food faddist of the Victorian era Isaac Fletcher (1784–1842), American lawyer and politician Isaac Fletcher (English politician) (1827–1879), English Member of Parliament J.S. Fletcher (1863–1935), English novelist and poet James Fletcher (1852–1908), Canadian entomologist, botanist, and writer James C. Fletcher (1919–1991), NASA administrator Jan Fletcher, British entrepreneur Jane Fletcher (Australian writer) (1870–1956), Tasmanian author and poet Jane Fletcher (English writer) (born 1956), English author of lesbian fiction Jason Fletcher (born 1975), American sports agent Jean de la Flèche (c. 1030 – c. 1097), Fletcher progenitor and 11th-century French nobleman Jo Fletcher, New Zealand professor of education Joan Bamford Fletcher (1909–1979), Canadian member of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry Joe Fletcher (referee), Canadian soccer referee John Fletcher (disambiguation), multiple people: John Fletcher (MP for Rye) (by 1490–1545 or later) John Fletcher (Canadian commissioner), sent to frontier Manitoba, in 1816, with William Bachelor Coltman Sir John Fletcher, 1st Baronet (1841–1924), British MP for Hampstead John Fletcher (New Zealand politician) (1888–1934), New Zealand Member of Parliament for Grey Lynn John Fletcher (Queensland politician) (1883–1965), Queensland state MP and cricketer John Fletcher (South Australian politician) (1883–1958), South Australian state MP John William Fletcher (1729–1785), early Methodist divine John Fletcher (priest) (died 1848), English Roman Catholic priest and writer John Wesley Fletcher (1940–1996), Assemblies of God pastor John Fletcher (cricketer, born 1893) (1893–1968), Australian cricketer John Fletcher (rower), American rower, gold winner at the 1979 World Rowing Championships John Walter Fletcher (1847–1918), pioneer of soccer (association football) in Australia John Fletcher (fullback) (1901–1977), American college football player John Fletcher (ice hockey) (born 1967), American ice hockey goaltender and coach John Fletcher (lineman) (born 1965), American football offensive and defensive lineman. John Aubrey-Fletcher (1912–1992), British soldier and cricketer John C. Fletcher, American ethicist, see American Society for Bioethics and Humanities John Gould Fletcher (1886–1950), Pulitzer Prize winner John Fletcher (businessman) (born 1951), former CEO of Australian retail company Coles Group John Fletcher (playwright) (1579–1625), Jacobean playwright John Fletcher (tubist) (1941–1987), London Symphony Orchestra John Edward Fletcher (1940–1992), Australian-British scholar Jack Fletcher (voice actor), American voice actor Joseph Fletcher (1905–1991), American professor in ethics Justin Fletcher (born 1970), English children's television personality