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"Whitcher" is a very old English surname, the Yankees did not create it :)
WHITCHER, WHICHER, WITCHER: William, Richard Wicheer 1176 P (Bk) 1279 RH (Beds) Robert le Wiccher 1288 MESO (Sx) Richard Whychere 1327 SSRSx; Robert le Whicchere 1333 MESO (Ha). A derivative of Old English hwicce 'chest", a maker of chests. The early loss of the h is proved by the synonymous William le Wyccesrichte (1256 FFSo) who, no doubt followed the same occupation as Richard Le Wycher 1305 MESO (So). As Old English wic became both wike and wiche in ME, the surname may also mean dweller at a place called Wich (or Wick) or "dairy farmer", as is proved by Peter le Wycher and John Wych (1327) (SRWo) who were both assessed in the parish of Hambury juxta Wych. In view of the common interchange of Wh and W, this may also have become Whi(t)cher. Or, we may have 'dweller by the wych-elm enclosure, as in Witcha Fm in Ramsbury (Wilts), the home of Richard atte Wycheheye in 1322 (PN W 290).
Source: Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 3rd Ed. Oxford University Press, Oxford, England, 1997. Pg. 486
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