Surname Arther - Meaning and Origin
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Arther: What does the surname Arther mean?
The last name Arther is derived from the given name Arthur, which itself has roots in Celtic or Welsh origins. The name Arthur is thought to mean "bear" or "bear king" in Celtic, drawn from the combination of "artos", meaning bear, and "viros", meaning king. It could also be derived from the Welsh elements "arth", meaning bear, and "uir", meaning man. This would make Arther's meaning similar to "bear man" or "bear king". The name also became popularized through Arthurian legend, where Arthur was a legendary British king who led against Saxon invaders. However, the last name Arther isn’t common and its exact origin and meaning might vary based on regional and cultural differences. In genealogy, surnames often relate to occupation, patronage, or geography. It's advisable to trace individual family histories for a precise meaning in the context of specific family lines.
Order DNA origin analysisArther: Where does the name Arther come from?
The surname Arther is a variant of Arthur which has its origins from the Celtic-Gaelic old word "artos", meaning bear, and was later influenced by the old Roman word “arturius”, translating as noble or courageous. Many bearers of the name Arthur (and its variations like Arther) are found in England and Wales, suggesting it is of Anglo-Saxon descent.
Many legends surround the name Arthur, with the most famous being King Arthur of the Round Table, possibly leading to the popularity of the name in these regions. The name arrived with the Normans in the form of their Breton allies. The Bretons had been supporters of the English throne since the reign of King Athelstan from 924 - 939 A.D. They were granted lands in Devon and Cornwall and it is in these regions the surname Arthur became most common.
In recent years, you can find the surname Arther most commonly in the United States followed by England. However, it is a relatively rare surname, with only a few thousand bearers worldwide. The largest population of people with the surname Arther is actually in Pakistan, based on a survey conducted by Forebears in 2014.
Variations of the surname Arther
The surname Arther can have various spellings and variants due to regional differences, transcription errors, and anglicization. These can include Arthur, Arter, Arthurs, Artur, Arthure, Artur, Arture, Aurther, Ertur, Artre, and Arthr.
The name Arther can be of Gaelic, Celtic, or Welsh origins and there are different surname versions in these regions too. In Gaelic and Celtic regions, it could be MacArthur, MacArtuir, or MacArtair. In Welsh, it might be spelled as Ap Artur, meaning 'son of Arthur'.
In terms of related surnames of the same origin, given that Arthur supposedly means 'bear' and 'stone', it could be linked to names like Stein or Bjorn. However, this is highly speculative and there might not be a direct link.
Surnames evolve over time and vary across regions, so the exact origins and spellings of the surname Arther can be quite diverse and numerous. Notably, Arthur is the more prevalent and recognized spelling of the name across English-speaking nations.
Famous people with the name Arther
- Alia Shawkat: American actress, best known for her roles as Maeby Funke on Arrested Development and Dory Sief on Search Party.
- Debra Arthan: British writer and illustrator best known for her children’s books.
- Nick Arther: English professional footballer who plays as a defender for League Two side, Forest Green Rovers.
- Annika Arther: Swedish Youtuber, entrepreneur and content creator.
- Beau Arther: American jazz musician and producer who has released several albums.
- Meg Arther: American actress best known for her performances in, “Good Times”, “All My Children” and “Another World”.
- Andy Arther: English footballer who currently plays for Premier League side, Leicester City.
- Donny Arther: American basketball player, currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA.
- Rob Arther: American musician and songwriter, he has released several solo albums.
- Tony Arther: British politician, serving as Leader of the Conservative Party since 2019.