The MacLucas name originates in the triangle
of the west coast of Scotland, Isle of Man and Ireland. It
is a gaelic patronomic name; meaning "Son of Luke".
There is little doubt that the name came
from the spread of Christianity. It would have been used within
the preisthood and wider society because of St Luke and in
turn this would have been subject to the Gaelic cultural use
of the terms; Mac, Mc, M', Mag, O.
In Scotland the name in Clan tradition is
noted as a sept of the MacDougall and Lamont Clans and it
is in those Clanlands where most are found, but the name is
so widely scattered over all the islands and west coast mainland
particularly Argyll that there are records of MacLucas's living
on the lands of the Campbells, MacDonalds, MacLeans and a
few on record who owned their land. The MacLucas's though
were very much an island dwelling and seafaring people. The
genalogical records found prove this to be the case, fishermen,
sailors, ferrymen and on Loch Fyne the MacLucas's built ships
for the Campbells. Unfortunately many MacLucas's changed their
names to MacDougall, Lamont and Douglas, and possible MacDonald,
Campbell or MacLean depending on who's land they were living
on, (or which Clan they were a part of). The changing of names
to that of the land or Clan Chiefs was common tradition in
Scotland.
In Ireland the MacLucas's were found more
in the north, this is probably due to migration from Scotland
especially during the 17th century when the plantations of
James the 6th took place and the displacement of many people
during the civil wars. it is therefore very likely that the
MacLucas's in the north are really Ulster Scots. In the south
of Ireland the MacLucas's are thin on the ground and some
of them may well have came from Norman/English Lucas's who
appeared in southern Ireland.
The Isle of Man MacLucas's are still a bit
of a mystery to me and if anyone has any info on them or where
any other MacLucas's have appeared from, feel free to send
it in.
Europe wide, the surname Lucas appears in
Holland and the Low Countries and England, Luca appears in
Italy, and Lucas is found as a forename from the mediterainian
to Russia.
