The surname ‘Lancaster’ originates from England. It is derived from the habitation name from the city in North West England, so called from the River ‘Lune’, on which it stands, and the Old English word ‘coester’ meaning Roman fort (from the Latin word ‘castra’ meaning legionary camp). The river name is properly Briton a cognate with the Gaelic word ‘saln’ meaning healthy, salubrious. Historical and Private archive’s confirm that the surname ‘Lancaster’ and or it’s variant’s, dates as far back as the thirteenth century were the surname, is recorded as being one of the major land owning families in Lancashire. (at one point descending through the female line). The exact period of settlement in North America has not been definitely determined but Information extracted from Public and Civil registry archive’s confirm that one of the first settlers was a certain ‘John Lancaster’, aged 16, a labourer by trade, from the county of Essex, England. He emigrated to North America in 1774, sailing from the Port of London aboard the ship named the ‘Minerva’ on the …
Coat of arms: Argent two bars …