Chaucer (surname)

Chaucer is an English surname of Norman French origin. It derives from the Old French word chaucier, meaning "shoemaker" or "hosier," and was an occupational name for someone who made or sold shoes or hose. The word chauce referred to leg coverings, and the suffix -ier indicated someone involved with their production or trade.

The earliest records of the surname in England appear in the 13th century. It is most famously associated with Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343 – 1400), the English poet and author of The Canterbury Tales. The family name likely reflected an ancestor's occupation. The prevalence of the surname is found primarily in England, with smaller concentrations in other English-speaking countries. Variations in spelling are relatively uncommon, largely due to the surname's association with a significant literary figure.