Surname Castle - Meaning and Origin

Revisiting Roots: A DNA Revelation on my Viking-Inspired Castle Ancestry

Who am I? This question haunts us all, and at times the answer appears to be an intertwining puzzle. With the help of iGENEA's DNA test, I traced back my family roots, specifically the Castle lineage, which led to an unexpected revelation - a surprising connection to the Viking age!

E. Castle

Castle: What does the surname Castle mean?

The last name Castle is of English origin and derives from the Old Norman word "castel" or Late Latin word "castellum," both of which mean a fortified building or set of buildings. It was originally used as a nickname for someone who lived near a castle, or possibly a status name for someone who lived in a castle, or even an occupational name for someone who worked in a castle. During the Middle Ages, this type of fortification was a key part of defensive and offensive strategies, and hence castles were prominent landmarks in many communities. Over time, the term evolved into a surname. It is also possible that the name Castle was anglicized from a similar sounding surname from another language. It should also be noted that the distribution of this surname in England indicates a potential association with places named Castle, such as in Sussex. Hence, in some cases, it might be a locational surname. This name is found widely in England and North America, and is also present in Australia and New Zealand.

Castle: Where does the name Castle come from?

The surname Castle is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from Old English "castel" or Old French "castel," both meaning "castle" or "fortified building." It was often given as a topographic name for someone who lived near a castle, or as an occupational name for someone who worked in a castle. This name first appeared in England in the 12th Century after the Norman Conquest when castles were being built in large numbers.

Today, the surname Castle is found most frequently in the United States, England, and Australia. According to Forebears, in 2014 the United States had the highest number of people with the Castle surname followed by England. In England, the surname is most common in the southeastern region. Its frequency is highest in Isle of Wight where 1 in 516 people carry the Castle surname. The surname is also common in Australia, specifically in the state of Tasmania.

Variations of the surname Castle

The surname Castle has numerous spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin. However, it is essential to mention that the variations could be as a result of migration, language differences, transliteration, and phonetic spelling by foreign authorities, among other factors. Some variants include Castel, Castele, Castell, Castello, Kastle and Kastel.

Similar surnames potentially originating from the same root include Castleton and Castelloe. In some cases, Castleberry and Castleman could also be considered, these likely derive from families or individuals associated with a location or occupation related to castles.

Surnames such as Chateau from French-speaking regions or Burg / Schloss from German-speaking regions, also meaning "castle," could potentially be interpreted as being of shared origin, due to their shared etymology. However, it’s important to note that similar translations in different languages don't always indicate a common origin.

Castles is another variant of the surname, commonly found in English-speaking regions, which is simply the plural form of Castle. Similarly, Castellanos, a Hispanic surname meaning 'inhabitants of a castle', might be seen as a distantly related variant.

Yet, each variant may also have its own unique history and geographic distribution, the accurate tracing of which would demand genealogical and historical research.

Famous people with the name Castle

• Nick Castle: An American screenwriter, film director, and actor best noted for directed films like "The Last Starfighter" and "The Boy Who Could Fly."
• Robert Castle: A former American football player who played five seasons in the NFL.
• Peggy Castle: An American actress from the 1940s and 1950s, famous for movies like "99 River Street" and TV shows like "Lawman."
• Jimmy Castle: An American producer, writer, and director known for "Circa 81" and "Tumble Dry."
• Barbara Castle: An influential British Labour Party politician and the first woman to hold the position of First Secretary of State in the UK.
• Wellington E. "Duke" Castle: A jazz saxophonist and clarinetist from 30s to 60s.
• Trudy Castle: A known Canadian singer from the 80s.
• Roy Castle: A British entertainer noted for his talents as an actor, musician, and television presenter.
• Irene Castle: A famous ballroom dancer, she was part of the husband-wife duo "Vernon and Irene Castle," who popularized social dancing in the early 20th century.
• Linda Castle: An actress notable for roles in "Home Alone 3" and "The Big Sick."
• Vernon Castle: An Anglo-American dancer and stage actor. He was Irene Castle's husband.
• Edward Castle: A British political activist and author. Please note some of these people might be more or less known depending on regional fame and the field they are known for.

Other surnames

CastlemanCastlerCastles