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Show ContentsLucas History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The Lucas family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from the baptismal name Luke. This surname followed the religious naming tradition, where surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. In Europe, the Christian Church was one of the most powerful influences on the formation of given names. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint. In this case the surname Lucas was taken from St. Luke the Evangelist.

Early Origins of the Lucas family

The surname Lucas was first found in Nottinghamshire where the singular name Lucas was listed c. 1150. A few years later, Eurard Lucas was listed as a Knights Templar in Hertfordshire 1153-1185. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two entries for the name as a forename: Lucas Cacherellus, Norfolk; and Lucas Bercator, Cambridgeshire. 2 In Somerset, John Lucas was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 3

"Lucas is a name established in various parts of England. It was represented in this county as well as in Norfolk in the reign of Edward I." 4

"Why the name of this evangelist should have become a family name in its original form, while the other three are only so in their Anglicized shape, is not apparent." 5

Early History of the Lucas family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lucas research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1598, 1606, 1610, 1613, 1631, 1633, 1635, 1639, 1640, 1648, 1649, 1662, 1663, 1664, 1665, 1669, 1671, 1672, 1675, 1676, 1680, 1686, 1687, 1688, 1693, 1702, 1705, 1713, 1715, 1769, 1771, 1786, 1791, 1808, 1816, 1830, 1832, 1839, 1840, 1843, 1854, 1856, 1859, 1865, 1866, 1869 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lucas History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lucas Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Lucas include Lucas, Lucass, Lukas and others.

Early Notables of the Lucas family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Sir Thomas Lucas (1598-1649), a Royalist army officer
  • Sir Charles Lucas (1613-1648), an English soldier, a Royalist commander in the English Civil War
  • John Lucas, 1st Baron Lucas of Shenfield (1606-1671), an English industrialist and landowner
  • Charles Lucas, 2nd Baron Lucas (1631-1688)
  • Richard Lucas (1648/1649-1715), a Welsh clergyman and writer of devotional works

Lucas World Ranking

In the United States, the name Lucas is the 286th most popular surname with an estimated 94,506 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Lucas is ranked the 638th most popular surname with an estimated 8,147 people with that name. 7 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Lucas is the 751st popular surname with an estimated 57 people with that name. 8 France ranks Lucas as 66th with 36,000 people. 9 Australia ranks Lucas as 220th with 15,120 people. 10 New Zealand ranks Lucas as 319th with 1,921 people. 11 The United Kingdom ranks Lucas as 309th with 19,742 people. 12 Netherlands ranks Lucas as 646th with 2,838 people. 13 South Africa ranks Lucas as 911st with 7,657 people. 14

Ireland Migration of the Lucas family to Ireland

Some of the Lucas family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Lucas migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Lucas were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Lucas Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Lucas Lucas, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1627 15
  • Robert Lucas, who arrived in Virginia in 1631 15
  • Samll Lucas, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 15
  • Roger Lucas, who landed in Virginia in 1636 15
  • Jone Lucas, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lucas Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Edmd Lucas, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 15
  • Isaac Lucas, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 15
  • Frantz Lucas, who landed in New Jersey in 1709 15
  • Francis Lucas and his wife and eight children settled in New England in 1709
  • Anna Catharina Lucas, aged 4, who landed in New York in 1710 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lucas Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Juan Francisco Lucas, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1800 15
  • Jonathan Lucas, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1804 15
  • Betsy Lucas, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 15
  • Archibald Lucas, aged 30, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 15
  • Samuel Lucas, aged 26, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Lucas migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lucas Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Jean Lucas, who landed in Montreal in 1714
  • Mr. Clement Lucas Jr., U.E. (b. 1738) born in New York, USA from Pennsylvania, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1782 16
  • Mr. Clement Lucas Sr., U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 16
  • Mr. Amos Lucas U.E. who settled in Midland District [Lennox & Addington], Ontario c. 1784 16
Lucas Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Lucas, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1823
  • Francis Lucas was a planter in Catalina, Newfoundland in 1833 17
  • William Lucas, aged 36, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Highlander" in 1834
  • Margaret Lucas, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Highlander" in 1834
  • James Lucas, aged 3, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Highlander" in 1834
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Lucas migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Lucas Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Lucas, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • Mr. George Lucas, (b. 1795), aged 24, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • George Lucas, Welsh convict from Glamorgan, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on October 16, 1826, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 20
  • Mr. Samuel Lucas, Jr., English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 19th August 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21
  • Mr. James Lucas, (b. 1804), aged 25, English farm labourer who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 1st October 1829, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 22
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Lucas migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Lucas Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Robert Lucas, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mr Lucas, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842
  • Charles Lucas, aged 22, a shoemaker, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1842
  • Elizabeth Lucas, aged 23, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1842
  • Lucy Jane Lucas, aged 1, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Lucas (post 1700) +

  • Robert Emerson Lucas Jr. (1937-2023), American economist at the University of Chicago, known for developing the classical approach to macroeconomics for which he received the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1995
  • William Lucas (1928-2022), American politician, Executive of Wayne County (1983-1987), Sheriff of Wayne County (1969-1983)
  • Edward Joseph "Ed" Lucas Jr. (1939-2021), American blind sportswriter who primarily covered the New York Yankees
  • Dick Lucas (1934-2020), professional American football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles; he died from COVID-19
  • Lawrence E. Lucas (1933-2020), American Catholic Priest in the Roman Catholic Church in America from Harlem New York City
  • Carrie Ann Lucas (1971-2019), American lawyer, disability rights advocate, and activist, founder of Disabled Parents Rights
  • Reginald Grant "Reggie" Lucas (1953-2018), American Grammy Award winning musician, songwriter and record producer, known for producing most of Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album and for playing with the Miles Davis electric band
  • Malcolm Millar Lucas (1927-2016), American jurist, 26th Chief Justice of California
  • Major-General John Porter Lucas (1890-1949), American Chief of the Army Advisory Group to China (1946-1948) 23
  • Private First Class Jacklyn Harold Lucas (1928-2008), United States Marine awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Iwo Jima campaign
  • ... (Another 95 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mr. Graham Neville Lucas (d. 1979), New Zealander First Officer, from Auckland, New Zealand working aboard the Air New Zealand sightseeing Flight 901 when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 24
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Francis John Lucas, American 2nd Class passenger from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 25
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. William Lucas, aged 34, English Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking by escaping in collapsible A 26
  • Mr. William A. Lucas, aged 25, English Able Seaman from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on collapsible D 26

The Lucas Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Respice finem
Motto Translation: Regard the end.
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  8. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  9. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  10. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  11. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  12. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  13. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  14. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  15. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  16. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  17. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  20. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Andromeda voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1826 with 147 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1826
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
  23. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, April 2) John Lucas. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Lucas/John_Porter/USA.html
  24. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  25. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  26. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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