Lund Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Lund

The name Lund is Scandinavian in origin but variations were also found to exists in England and Germany. The easiest translation of the name comes from the Old Norse-Viking word “lundr” meaning a thicket, stand, or grove of trees. Many of the ancient names such as Lund and its variations in spelling, acted as an indicator or representation of the birthplace of the person by identifying easily recognizable landmarks. This worked well for the small settlements which existed at this time because people rarely traveled far from their homes and were familiar with the surrounding landscape.

The name Lund was has been determined it came to Britain during the Viking age by the Norse adventurers. Variations in the name’s spelling exists, as with many names which date back to the early centuries. These variations of the name include; Lund, Lun, Lunn, Lwn, and Lunt among others. The variation in spelling of names during this time period can be attributed to a lack of continuity regarding guidelines for spelling which was compounded by the diversity of languages in use in European countries at this time. The first records of any variation of the name to appear in England is that of Ralph de Lunde who appears in the Yorkshire Pipe Rolls records from 1183. Additional references regarding bearers of name can be found in official records; John de Lound of Suffolk in 1327, John de Lound in 1327 and John Lunt in 1524, both of Suffolk, and Gilbert Lunt of Litherand in 1568.

The first records of immigrants to America include Edmund Lund in 1653 and Thomas Lund in 1664, both of whom landed in Virginia, John Lund in 1678 who landed in Maryland, and Niels Lund in 1761 who landed in New York.

Worldwide, the highest concentration of people with the surname Lund are found in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Aside from the surname, Lund is also the name of the oldest town in Sweden in the country’s southern region. The original village was settled in the 10th century around 990. The current location where the present-day city is found was thought to have been settled around 1020.

The location of the settlement was moved approximately three miles from the original site on orders from the king at that time, Sweyn I. The new location offered advantages in defending the settlement not found at the original location. Lund became the temporary capital of Sweden from 1716 until 1718 when King Charles XII made Lund his residence,

Lund is home to Lund Cathedral, the original Archdiocese for all of Scandinavia. King Eric I of Denmark made the pilgrimage to Rome personally to request the creation of the an archdiocese to include all of Scandinavia from Pope Pascall III. In 1104, King Eric’s request was granted. Bishop Asser Thorkilsson was named archbishop of Scandinavian, Lund was named as the headquarters, and construction began on the cathedral.

Lund University one of the oldest, largest, and most revered universities in northern Europe is located in Lund as are the headquarters for The Royal Swedish Physiographic Society. The Royal Swedish Physiographic Society is part of the The Royal Academies of Sweden. While the Royal Academies are all independent, they are founded on Royal Order. The Royal Swedish Physiographic Society received a Royal Charter on March, 6, 1778 from King Gustav III.

Notable persons of the surname Lund:

Lieutenant General Sir Otto Marling Lund. He served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Anti-Aircraft Command during World War II for the British Army. For his meritorious and/or distinguished service during wartime he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. Sir Henry Simpson Lunn was a British Methodist Minister and humanitarian. For his service and humanitarian work, in 1910, he was made a Knight Bachelor. Sir Arnold Lund was a British athlete, writer, and son of Sir Henry Simpson Lund. He received his Knighthood in 1952. Kristin Skogen Lund is a Norwegian business woman who has been the director and CEO of several large multi-national corporations. Carsten Lund, PhD, is an American theoretical computer scientist who works at one of the largest telecommunication companies currently in operation.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Parson’s Green, Fulham, co. Middlesex, and co. York). Per chev. or and gu. three lions pass. counterchanged.
2) (Shelford, co. Cambridge, and co. York). Gyronny of eight ar. and az. on a bordure engr. sa. as many plates.
3) (Lovely Hall, Blackburn, co. Lancaster; granted to Thomas Lund, Esq., Mayor of Blackburn, 1863-4). Motto—Semper fidelis. Gyronny of eight ar. and gu. three covered cups or, a chief indented sa. charged with annulets of the third and bezants alternately. Crest—A demi lion ramp. gu. charged with two covered cups in pale, as in the arms, and holding betw. the paws a plate, thereon a cross pattée throughout also gu.