Submitted Surname Revision History

loadingDate    Editor    Change Summary
12/23/2022, 10:40 PM Mike C
2/13/2020, 11:07 AM Mike C
2/1/2016, 3:55 PM Sofia merge 2 names
12/15/2014, 3:04 AM Frollein Gladys move from given name to surname
5/25/2014, 6:53 AM LMS
1/4/2014, 2:08 AM LMS
1/4/2012, 2:23 PM SeaHorse15
1/4/2012, 9:49 AM Giacobbe.Serperior

Name Alabaster
Type Surname
Usage English
Pronounced Pron. AL-ə-bas-tər
Other Forms FormsAlabastir, Arblaster, Armbruster
Edit Status Statusnot set

Meaning & History

From the name of a whitish kind of gypsum used for vases, ornaments and busts, ultimately deriving from Greek alabastros, itself perhaps from Egyptian 'a-labaste "vessel of the goddess Bast". The English word alabaster is used figuratively for whiteness and smoothness.
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Meant "crossbowman" (from Anglo-Norman arblaster, from Old French arbalestre "crossbow").

Cf. Armbruster ("crossbowman" or "maker of crossbows", from a derivative of Middle High German armbrust "crossbow", from Old French arbalestre), Ballaster ("person who makes or is armed with a crossbow", from a derivative of Middle English baleste "crossbow", from Old French).
Added 1/4/2012 by Giacobbe.Serperior