This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Arthur.' A rare font-name in the Hundred Rolls. Very common since the battle of Waterloo and the publication of Tennyson's poems.

Walter fil. Arthurii, Lincolnshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

William Arthur, Essex, ibid.

Stephen Arthur, Wiltshire, ibid.

William Artur, Somerset, ibid.

Henry Artur, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

Robert Arthur, rector of Castor, Norfolk, 1334: History of Norfolk.

1615. Robert Arthur and Margaret Ballis: Marriage Lic. (London).

1709. Baptised — Benjamin Arthur, a young man about 18: St. Dionis Backchurch.

Gaelic Artair, Middle Gaelic. Artuir, Elr. Artuir, Artur, from Old Irish art, a 'bear,' W. arth. The name may point to early Celtic worship of the bear, whence Artogenos, 'son of Artos,' W. Arthgen (SGS., I, p. 11). The name occurs several times, both among the northern and southern Cymry at the close of the sixth and beginning of the seventh centuries (Zimmer, Nennius Vindicatus, p. 284). Aedan mac Gabrain, king of Dalriata, whose mother was a British princess, named his eldest son Arthur, "the first Gael, so far as we know, to bear that name" (Watson I, p. 129). Arthur of Kyncorth is mentioned 1435 (RAA., II, p. 69). Thomas Harthawr witnessed a commission of bailiary, 1511 (Panmure, II, 279). John Airtheor juror on retour of special service in Duns, Berwickshire, 1678 (Home, 194). "The fore-name Arthur is common in Shetland now (1879), but I rather think it is only a seventeenth or eighteenth century corrupt form of the Old Northern 'Ottar.' Last century, 'Otto,' or 'Otho,' or 'Ottie' was a frequent forename here; and now no case of it occurs. In our North Isles it has even been Judaised into 'Hosea,' so that 'Otto Ottoson' was transmuted into 'Hosea Hoseason' so written, but pronounced 'Osie Osieson'" (Arthur Laurenson in letter to Karl Blind, Nineteenth century, V, p. 1112). Arncthure 1686, Arthure 1530, Arthwire 1556. Chester Alan Arthur (1830—86), twenty-first president of the United States, was son of a Belfast minister of Scottish descent.

Arthur’s (Son) [ARTHURSON], Arthur’s Son v. Arthur.

The Christian name. Other surnames from it are Atty, Atts, Atkin, Atkins, Atkinson, Atcock. Aikin and Aitkin may be northern varieties.

(British.) A strong man; from Ar (Latin vir), a man, and thor, strong. In the Gaelic, Air is the same as Fear, a man; and the ancient Scythians called a man Aior. Thor was the Jupiter of the Teutonic races, their god of thunder. In Welsh, Arth is a bear, an emblem of strength and courage, and ur a noun termination, a man. Arthur, a bear—man, a hero, a man of strength; the name of a British prince.