Lucas

Lucas

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The Shield is: Argent a fess between six annulets gules.
The Crest is: Out of ducal coronet or, a dragon's head and shoulders , wings erect gules.
Supporters: Two dragons argent wings elevated gules ducally gorged or.
The Motto is: "Respice Finem", 'Regard The End'.
Variant spellings for Lucas are: Luke and Lukes.

The English surname Lucas is patronymic in origin, being one of those names derived from the first name of a father or ancestor. In this case, the name simply denotes "the son of Lucas", Lucas being the learned, and indeed, earliest form of the personal name Luke, from Latin "Lucius", meaning "light". The name has strong Biblical associations as it is the name of a saint, the third Evangelist beloved by Paul. It was first introduced into England, where New Testament names were rarely used, at the time of the Norman invasions in the eleventh century. Only through the Norman-French influence did such names become popular in England, and serve as the etymon of numerous family names. Today, the surnames Luke, Lukes, and Lucas are found in relatively large numbers in England. The form Lucas still survives in its original form, and seems to be concentrated mainly in the Midlands and the south-west. The earliest recorded instances of the name in England date from the middle of the twelfth century. In c. 1153, one Everard Lucas was one of the Knights Templar in Hertforshire, and one Willelmus Lucas is recorded in the Poll Tax of Howdenshire in 1379.

With emigration, the surname spread to North America where it was established at an early date. One of the first records is that contained in the ships lists. In July, 1735, having sworn the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy, one Richard Lucas, aged 16, set sail for Virginia in the "Alice".

Arms for the name are found on plate 62 in the Irish Book or Arms.

Sources: Family Heritage Shop

The Book of Irish Families Great & Small
Michael C. O'Laughin
1997 Irish Genealogical Foundation




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