There's an updated version of the ARTHUR surname at our new website, including better maps and updated information. Click/tap here to go to the new site at BritishSurnames.uk.

ARTHUR

AbeBooks.com. Thousands of booksellers - millions of books.

There are approximately 13,274 people named Arthur in the UK. That makes it the 768th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 210 are named Arthur.

Region of origin

British Isles

Country of origin

Scotland

Language of origin

Gaelic

Religion of origin

Christian

Classification

Celtic
From given name or forename

Related and similar surnames

Arthurs
Arter
Adkinson
Atkins
Aitchison
Aitcheson
Atkin
Adkins
Adkin
Acheson
Atkinson
Arther
Arthaud
Arth
Aarthur
Arrthur
Airthur
Arthar
Airthure
Airthour
Arthare
Aarther
Aarthor
Arthear
Artheer
Artheor
Airthoure
Artharee
Arthars
Airthor
Airthir
Airthar
Airther
Arithur

The Arthur surname in historical dictionaries

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)

(origin: British.) A strong man; from Ar (Lat. vir), a man, and thor, strong. In the Gaelic, Air is the same as Fear, a man; and the ancient Scythians called a man Aior. Thor was the Jupiter of the Teutonic races, their god of thunder. In Welsh, Arth is a bear, an emblem of strength and courage, and ur a noun termination, a man. Arthur, a bear-man, a hero, a man of strength; the name of a British prince.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

British Surnames