Surname Arthurs - Meaning and Origin
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Arthurs: What does the surname Arthurs mean?
The last name Arthurs is of Anglo-Saxon origin from ancient Britain. This patronymic surname is derived from the personal given name "Arthur." The name Arthur, of Celtic origin, means "bear," thus indicating one's forebears likely possessed bear-like strength, or perhaps were bear hunters. Over time, the name Arthur was modified with the addition of 's, signifying the “son of Arthur" or "belonging to Arthur". Therefore, the surname Arthurs could be translated to mean "descendant of Arthur".
This surname became popular throughout Britain due to the legendary King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and their tales of bravery, honor, and chivalry. So, families using this surname could also be indirectly indicating a connection or admiration for these qualities. Like many surnames, it could have also been used to identify individuals in a locality where more than one person had the same first name. The use of the surname Arthurs is prominent in Ireland and Wales but can be found in various forms across the globe.
Order DNA origin analysisArthurs: Where does the name Arthurs come from?
The surname Arthurs belongs to Irish and English origin. It is a patronymic form of the personal name "Arthur". The name "Arthur" has its roots in the ancient Celtic language, from the elements "art" which means bear, stone, or god, and "ur" meaning man or fire. Hence, it translates to "bear man" or "stone man".
During the Middle Ages, Arthur was a common name throughout British Isles due to the fame of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. However, surname creation did not begin until the 12th century, so the Arthurs’ surname can be seen as a tribute to King Arthur’s legend, possibly bestowed upon a person bearing similar traits or virtues.
Today, Arthurs can be found in many English-speaking countries. It is most common in England, Ireland, the United States, and Australia. However, there are considerable numbers in Canada, South Africa, and Scotland. Although it is a relatively rare surname, it is widely distributed around the globe.
Variations of the surname Arthurs
The surname Arthurs has several variants, spellings and related surnames stemming from similar origins or historical usage. Many of these variations are due to regional pronunciations and translations across different languages and countries.
A primary variant is "Arthur". Historically, Arthurs evolved as a patronymic surname - meaning it was derived from the personal name of a male ancestor. In this case, Arthur, a popular medieval first name believed to have originated from the famous Roman Lucius Artorius Castus and later associated with the legendary King Arthur.
Other common spellings and variations might include Arturs, Artus, Artur, Airthurs or Authurs. The 's' on the end typically signifies 'son of', transforming the first name Arthur into the surname Arthurs.
The phonetic variants could be Arters, Arthars, or Artares. In the same way that many surnames are anglicised, this surname may also have been translated or adapted to fit in with local dialects, resulting in further variations.
Interesting similar surnames or those from the same root in other languages could be Arturo (Italian), Artur (Polish, Portuguese),Arturas (Lithuanian), etc., albeit these are commonly used as first names.
Famous people with the name Arthurs
- Joseph Arthurs: A Canadian politician who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
- Jordan Arthurs: A Canadian professional ice hockey player.
- Neil Arthurs: A British musician, also known as Blunt, who is the bass guitarist for the band called "The Bluetones".
- Danielle Arthurs: A Northern Irish beauty queen who won the Miss Northern Ireland title.
- Jimmy Arthurs: An English professional golfer known for his contribution to the sport.
- Stanley Arthurs: An American artist who was known for his illustrations in popular periodicals.
- Winston Arthurs: A Jamaican cricketer who played in one Test and one ODI in 2002.
- Lincoln Arthurs: A Jamaican cricketer who has played for Jamaica in West Indian domestic cricket.
- Josh Arthurs: A prominent figure in the world of hip hop dance. He is notably the founder and director of the Brotherhood dance crew in Canada.
- Paul Arthurs: Known as "Bonehead", he is a founding member and rhythm guitarist of the English rock band Oasis.