Lukes

Lukes is a surname of European origin that derives from the given name Luke. The form is typically patronymic, arising from a designation such as “the Luke’s” or “belonging to Luke,” and it has been reinforced in some languages by the addition of the suffix -es. The given name Luke itself comes from the Latin Lucas, which in turn is derived from the Greek Loukas, commonly associated with origin from Lucania or, more broadly, with Luke as the bearer’s name.

As a surname, Lukes has appeared in various forms across Central and Western Europe and has spread to North America through migration. The spelling Lukes is found in several countries and can occur among communities with German, Dutch, Polish, or Slavic heritage, as well as among descendants of English-speaking settlers. It is relatively uncommon compared with Luke as a given name, but it is established in genealogical and historical records.

Related names include Luke, Lukas, Lukáš, and Lukasz, which share the same root. See also variations and patronymic formations in different languages for context on how the name evolved in different regions.