An English surname, Lancaster comes from the Old English term ‘caester’ which refers to a wall city or fort structure. The spelling variations for Lancaster include Lancoster, Lancastell and Lancester. All across England and Wales the Lancaster families have lived. Most have remained in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumberland counties. Concentrated in the southern region of Scotland have been where the Lancaster families have lived for centuries. Most have remained in Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Ayrshire, Dumfries-shire, Renfrewshire and Fife counties. Within the United States the earliest Lancaster families settled in Maine, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois and Virginia. Famous: William Newton “Bill” Lancaster (an early English aviator in 1927 flying from England to Australia), Burton “Burt” Lancaster (Oscar winning actor, director and producer of movie films), Elsa Sullivan Lancaster (English actress of movie films, television and theater), Brett Lancaster (professional bicyclist), Alan Lancaster (musician - guitar), James Lancaster (17th century English privateer and trader), Lester “Les” Lancaster (professional baseball player), Sarah Lancaster (television actress), Marshall Lancaster (actor), Nancy Lancaster (owner of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler - a decorating company in England) and Bill Lancaster (movie screenwriter).