Castellan Family History

Italian (northeastern): variant of Castellano. Americanized form of Croatian Kaštelan or of its variant Kastelan: occupational name from kaštelan ‘castellan fortress commander’ also ‘warden of a prison’. Compare Castelan.

French (southern): variant of Castella, a southern variant of Châtelain ‘lord (of the manor)’; see Chatelain. In part, it is probably of Italian origin (see Castellano compare 1 above).

English: variant of Castellain either a status or occupational name from Middle English castelain ‘governor or constable of a castle’ also ‘warden of a prison’ (Old French castelain chastelain), or a habitational name of Norman origin from Castellion in Eure (France).

This surname is rare in Britain.