The surname Chaucer is thought to have one of the following derivations:
- The name Chaucer frequently occurs in the early Letter Books and in French language of the time it meant "shoemaker", which meaning is also recorded in the "Glossary of Anglo-Norman and Early English Words".[1]
- From French 'chaussier', 'chaucier', a hosier.[2][1]
- It may have arisen from 'chaufecire', 'chafewax', i.e. a clerk of the court of Chancery whose duty consisted in affixing seals to royal signature.[1][2] However, Kern doubted this derivation, since the surname 'Chaucer' was too common.[1]
The first two derivations are ultimately traced to Latin calcearium, "shoemaker".[1]
The surname may refer to:
- Alice Chaucer, Duchess of Suffolk
- Chaucer Elliott (1879–1913), Canadian sportsman
- Geoffrey Chaucer, "Father of English literature"
- Thomas Chaucer (c. 1367 – 1434), Speaker of the English House of Commons