Surname Lencastre - Meaning and Origin

Lencastre: What does the surname Lencastre mean?

Lencastre is a Portuguese last name of noble origin, adopted by the Duke of Aveiro from the House of Lancaster in England. The name is derived from Lancaster which was an important noble house in the Middle Ages in England. The Duke of Aveiro changed his surname from Braganza to Lencastre to honor his ancestral ties with the House of Lancaster. The name ‘Lancaster’ itself originates from the Roman times in England and is a toponymic surname, denoting someone either born or residing in the town of Lancaster. The name is composite, ‘lan’ meaning river and ‘ceaster’ meaning fort, referring to a ‘fort on the river Lune’. Overall, the Lencastre surname signifies noble lineage tracing back to an important historical town in England.

Lencastre: Where does the name Lencastre come from?

The surname Lencastre is of Old Norse origin and was first found in Lancashire, a county in Northwest England. It is derived from the place-name Lancaster in Lancashire, which means 'roman fort on the Lune', with "Lune" being a river in North West England.

The surname was notably carried by the House of Lancaster, a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, in the Middle Ages. It became well-known in Portugal after Beatrice of Portugal, the only surviving child of King Ferdinand I of Portugal, married John I of Castile. Their daughter, Philippa of Lancaster, married John I of Portugal, bringing the name to Portugal.

Today, it is still found in the United Kingdom, albeit not very common. It is more common in Portugal and Brazil, stemming from Portuguese colonization. It can also be found among people of Portuguese descent in other parts of the world. Typically, the Portuguese variant adds an "e" to become "Lencastre". It also exists in its Spanish form, Lancáster. However, it is crucial to note that while the surname may have spread to various parts of the world, it remains relatively rare overall.

Variations of the surname Lencastre

The surname Lencastre is typically of Portuguese origin. Variations of this surname can depend on geographic location, transcription errors, and interpretations. Some of the most common variants include: Lancaster, Lancastre, and L'encastre.

The English equivalent of Lencastre is "Lancaster", which is a common surname in England. This name primarily originates from the city of Lancaster in Lancashire, Northwestern England. It was initially used as a geographic surname for someone who lived in or near this city.

In addition, many surnames have evolved over time, being simplified or altered to fit the orthography or phonology of different languages. Hence, surnames like "De Lancaster", "Van Lancaster", or "Von Lancaster" can also be encountered in different cultural contexts.

Given the long history and variety of influences this name has been subjected to, there might be still other variations and interpretations of the surname Lencastre that are not listed here. The history of a surname can reveal a lot about the migrations, cultural exchanges, and historical events that have shaped it over the centuries.

Famous people with the name Lencastre

• Countess of Linhares Maria da Glória Lencastre: descendant of a Portuguese noble family, daughter of the Marquis de Sá da Bandeira, she was the wife of Count of Linhares from 1895 to 1935.
• Infanta Maria Francisca of Portugal, Maria Josefa of Braganza-Lencastre: born a princess and the youngest surviving daughter of the King Miguel I of Portugal and a princess of the House of Braganza-Lencastre.
• Queen Amélie of Orléans, Maria Amélia de Lencastre: wife of Prince Ruffo Beck de Mendonça, Duchess of Orléans and a descendant of the Portuguese house of Lencastre.
• Infanta Maria Anunciada of Portugal, Maria Luísa de Silva de Lencastre: born a princess and was daughter of the King Miguel I of Portugal, she was a descendant of the house of Lencastre.
• Princess Francisca of Portugal, Maria Francisca de Assis Antónia de Lencastre: born a princess born to King Ferdinand II of Portugal and a descendant of the house of Lencastre.
• Prince Pedro Augusto of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Pedro Vitório de Lencastre: a prince of the dynasty of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and a descendant of the house of Lencastre.
• Infanta Maria Isabel of Portugal, Maria Isabel Carolina de Bragança de Lencastre: daughter of the King Miguel I of Portugal, she was a princess and descended of the house of Lencastre.

Other surnames

Lencaster