Surname Charteris - Meaning and Origin
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Charteris: What does the surname Charteris mean?
The last name Charteris is an anglicized variation of the French surname "Chartier," which means "mason" or "stoneworker." The occupational origin of the name suggests that the family comes from a long lineage of skilled stoneworkers.
Charteris is the surname of a number of notable people, including the British lieutenant-general and writer George Charteris (1769–1853), the English cricketer Alec Charteris (1882-1953), and the French-born American fashion designer Robert de La Renta.
The surname may also have links to a Scottish barony of the same name, which began around 1320 with Walter de Charteris. It is possible that the surname Charteris was adopted from this title, as some families choose to take on the name of their estate in order to distinguish themselves amongst others in their class.
In Scotland, Charteris is also the name of a historical masonic lodge in Edinburgh. This suggests that the family may have a particularly strong connection to the masonry profession.
The name Charteris is now fairly common in the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries of English-speaking origin, but it may retain a regional association with Scotland. As such, it evokes a rich history that can be traced back to its origin as an occupational surname, as well as its potential links to a Scottish barony.
Order DNA origin analysisCharteris: Where does the name Charteris come from?
The surname Charteris is quite common throughout many countries today. It is particularly common throughout England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
In England and Scotland, the surname originated from the Barony of Charteris in the United Kingdom. It was first found in Peeblesshire, Scotland, in 1066 where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Charteris. By the thirteenth century they had acquired many estates and properties in the Middle Shires of Scotland.
In Ireland, Sutton's History of Dublin states that the family was established in County Wicklow during the Middle Ages as Charteris of Dundrum Castle. They later moved north and became a leading and influential family in County Antrim.
In Australia, the Charteris name arrived in Australia after the Gold Rush. It is descended from English immigrants who set sail aboard the ship The Lucknow in 1853.
In New Zealand, the first of the family to settle in that country was Francis Charteris, who arrived in 1842. He was a surveyor and made his way to Canterbury's original settlement named Lyttelton.
Today, the Charteris surname is still common in all of these countries. It is most frequently found throughout England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Charteris
The Charteris surname is derived from the Norman French word ‘charetier’ which means chariot driver or carrier. The Charteris variant spellings include Charters, Chartres, Chartris, Chartier, Chartrand, and Chartresse and is a notable Scottish clan.
The Charteris name is most commonly found in Scotland, Ireland and Northern France. It was first established in Fauquembergues, Normandy and is believed to have migrated to Scotland in the 12th century. Lord Walter de Charetier and his siblings are thought to have accompanied King David I of Scotland who invited them to come and join his court.
The Charteris name is commonly found in records from the 13th century onward. Through the centuries, the name has been documented as Charteris, Charters, etc. It is common for surname spellings to have small variations and occasionally the name has even been spelled as one word, Charters. It is also common to find the name spelled in Gaelic as ‘Artair’.
The name is prominent today in Scotland, however, the number of surnames with this spelling varies greatly throughout different parts of the world. In America, for example, the name is very rare but is still present with the spelling of Charteris and Charters.
The Charteris surname is made of up of various spellings as it has continuously evolved over time. There are numerous variations that have the same origin, including Charters, Chartres, Chartris, Chartier, Chartrand and Chartresse.
Famous people with the name Charteris
- Leslie Charteris: an English author best known for his series of fictional books documenting the adventures of Simon Templar, also known as The Saint.
- Lord John Douglas Hamilton Charteris of Amisfield: a British soldier, politician and peer best known for his service during World War I.
- Angus Charteris: an Australian cricketer and solicitor who was a long-serving President of the Victorian branch of the Australian Cricket Association.
- Mary Charteris: the daughter of Henry Charteris and Lady Mary Comely, a British aristocrat, fashion model and musician.
- Everard Charteris: a British judge serving for nearly 30 years in the Chancery Division of the High Court.
- Charles Charteris: a British Member of Parliament in the early nineteenth century.
- Sir Gervais della Favella Charteris: an eighteenth century British soldier and diplomat who was knighted due to his distinguished service.
- Ilya Charteris: a Scottish rugby player who had a distinguished career in international and club rugby.
- Henry Charteris: an English nobleman who served as a Member of Parliament for more than 30 years during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
- Dame Lois Winifred Charteris: a British lawyer, judge and author, and the first woman to become a permanent judge of the High Court of England.