Arthur Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Arthur last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Arthur last name
Meaning of the Arthur last name: perhaps bear. Arthur is a Scottish, English and Welsh surname from the Celtic first name Arthur, perhaps from a word for bear. The last name is common in Scotland, where it also gave MacArthur, and it spread to Ireland and America. Curiously, Arthur's Seat, the hill above Edinburgh, has long been linked with the legendary king.
Arms associated with the Arthur name
In Scottish heraldry, coats of arms associated with the Arthur name are personal, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Arthur family history
This is only a glimpse of the Arthur story. The full Arthur 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 Arthur coat of arms. Get the full Arthur report.
Arthur name FAQ
What does the Arthur name mean?
Perhaps bear. Common variants include Arthurs, MacArthur.
Where does the Arthur surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in England, the United States and Australia.
Is there a Arthur coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Arthur coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).