Lancaster Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Lancaster last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Lancaster last name
Meaning of the Lancaster last name: fort on the River Lune. Lancaster is an English surname from the city of Lancaster, "the fort on the River Lune", from the river's name and Old English caester, "Roman fort". The town named the county of Lancashire and the royal House of Lancaster. The last name is found mainly in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria. A curious detail of this surname origin: the red rose of Lancaster gave the Wars of the Roses half their name.
Arms associated with the Lancaster name
In English heraldry gold stood for generosity and blue for loyalty, and coats of arms associated with the Lancaster name speak that old language of colour.
Get your full Lancaster family history
This is only a glimpse of the Lancaster story. The full Lancaster history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Lancaster coat of arms. Get the full Lancaster report.
Lancaster name FAQ
What does the Lancaster name mean?
Fort on the River Lune. Common variants include Lankaster, Lancastre.
Where does the Lancaster surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Lancaster coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Lancaster coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).