Show ContentsLukas History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Lukas

What does the name Lukas mean?

The name Lukas was spawned by the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that ruled a majority of Britain. It 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 Lukas was taken from St. Luke the Evangelist.

Early Origins of the Lukas family

The surname Lukas 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 Lukas family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lukas 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 Lukas History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lukas Spelling Variations

Lukas has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Lukas have been found, including Lucas, Lucass, Lukas and others.

Early Notables of the Lukas 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...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lukas Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lukas Ranking

In the United States, the name Lukas is the 9,937th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Lukas family to Ireland

Some of the Lukas 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.


Lukas migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Lukass to arrive on North American shores:

Lukas Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hans Gorg Lukas, who landed in New York in 1709 7
Lukas Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Michael Lukas, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1855
  • Aag je Lukas, who landed in Iowa in 1866 7
  • Cornelia Lukas, who arrived in Iowa in 1866 7
  • Hermanus Lukas, who arrived in Iowa in 1866 7
  • Jan Lukas, who landed in Iowa in 1866 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lukas migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lukas Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Peter Lukas was a boat-keeper in St. John's Harbour, Newfoundland in 1682 8
Lukas Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Lukas, who settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in 1823

Contemporary Notables of the name Lukas (post 1700) +

  • Jay Anthony Lukas (1933-1997), American journalist and author awarded the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction
  • Erich G. Lukas, American politician, Representative from Pennsylvania 8th District, 2004 9
  • Lukas Märtens (b. 2001), German swimmer, gold medalist winner at the 2024 Summer Olympics
  • Lukas Foss (1922-2009), German-American composer, pianist, and conductor
  • Lukas Hofer (b. 1989), Italian biathlete
  • Lukas "Luki" Botha (1930-2006), Formula One driver from South Africa who raced in the 1967 World Championship Grand Prix, driving a privately entered Brabham BT11
  • Lukas Finsterle (b. 1990), Czech professional ice hockey player for the 2nd Czech Republic Hockey League
  • Lukas Nola (1964-2022), Croatian film director and screenwriter
  • Lukas Henrik Lundin (1958-2022), Swedish-Canadian businessman, based in Geneva, Switzerland, Cairman of Lundin Mining, Denison Mines, Lucara Diamond, NGEx Resources Inc, Lundin Gold Inc, the Lundin Foundation, and Vostok Gas
  • Lukas Greiderer (b. 1993), Austrian nordic combined skier, bronze medalist at the 2022 Winter Olympics


The Lukas 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. 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)
  8. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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