Leuchars

This long-established surname is of early medieval Scottish origin, and is a territorial name from Leuchars in the parish of the same name in Fifeshire. Spelt "Locres" circa 1300, the place is believed to have as an initial element either the Old Gaelic "loch", lake, or the Olde English "loc", enclosure, with "risc", rush; hence, "rushy lake or enclosure". Locational surnames, such as this, were originally given to local landowners, and the lord of the manor, and especially as a means of identification to those who left their birthplace to settle elsewhere Early examples of the surname include: Schir Thomas of Luchers, parson of Kynnettyllis in 1388; John de Lucris, bailie of Aberdeen in 1398; and another John de Lluchris, charter witness in Dundee (1430). Thomas de Luthris, prebendary of Guthry in 1435, appears as "de Lochrys, de Lathress", and "de Luchris" in the Episcopal Register of Brechin, and in 1571, Helen Leuchars "in Hiltoun of Watterstoun" was noted in the Commissariot Record of Brechin (Angus). The surname is particularly well recorded in 17th Century Angus Church Registers as Leuchars and Lewchars. On June 9th 1631, William Lewchars was christened at Brechin, and on May 27th 1669, the christening of Margret, daughter of David Leuchars, took place at Forfar, Angus. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Patrick de Locrys, bishop of Brechin, which was dated 1351, in "Records of the Bishop of Scotland", during the reign of King David 11 of Scotland, 1329 - 1371. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.