Lets look at some characters that stand out:
Thomas Houchon Lucas Born 1460 Saxham Parva (Died 1531) became Solicitor General to Henry VII. He took full advantage of his position and amassed great wealth and acquired several properties. He built himself by all accounts a fine manor house at Little Saxham. In Little Saxham Church ( although now dominated by the Croft family tombs) he established the Lucas Chapel.
John Lucas born 1512
Sir Thomas 1573 - 1625 and his sons Sir Thomas, John (Baron of Shenfield) and
Sir Charles stand out, not to mention his daughter Madge.
Margaret (Mad Madge), nee Lucas, born 1623 Colchester. later to become Lady Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Eliza (nee Lucas) Pinckney 1722 -1793, born in Antiqua she inherited a plantation in South Carolina and had a big impact on the early years of the colony later to become the USA.
Charles Lucas VC, born 1834 Boatswain's Mate on HMS Hecla during Crimean War VC awarded 21 June 1854
Charles was born in Druminargal House, Scarva, County Armagh, on 19 February 1834. He was the first to be rewarded with the Victoria Cross. He picked up a live mortar and throw it over the side of the ship, saving many lives.
The Lucas Brothers Charles Thomas Lucas (1820 London – 1895)and Thomas Lucas (1822–1902). They were the sons of James Lucas (1792–1865), a builder from St Pancras, London. Charles managed construction of the Norwich & Brandon Railway . In 1842 they started on building Somerleyton Hall. From their facility in Lowestoft they undertook various works, including the railway, the station, the Esplanade, St John’s church, and several hotels, as well as pre-fabricated huts for the navvies who built the Crimea railway. They then moved to London, where they built various public buildings including the Royal Albert Hall, Covent Garden Opera House and King's College Hospital
James “Mad Lucas” Born 23/02/1811 lived at Red Coats, "The Hermit of Hertfordshire" a famous (or should that be infamous ) eccentric. He lived as a recluse, and was visited by many figures of the day including Charles Dickens. He died 1874 leaving £120,00 He was buried in Hackney
William Lucas, ‘Anchorite’ at All hallows, London Wall . Among other sums given by Lucas are 3s. 4d. to church work, 2s. 8d. to 'ye makyng of ye new bolles of laton of ye beme,' and 3s. 4d. for painting the church. He died about 1486. Anchorites were recluses who chose to be walled up in small cells for life within or close to a church. There is a record of one son - a surprise there !
Edward Verrall Lucas, Quaker - humorist, essayist, playwright, biographer, publisher, poet, novelist, short story writer and editor
John Lucas VC, Born 1892 in Ireland. A colour sergeant in the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot . Awarded VC during The New Zealand War.
Joseph Lucas, Born 1846 in Hertfordshire. A Hydro-geologist.
Elias Lucas of Castle Camp Cambridge
The Reverend Henry Lucas (c. 1610 – July 1663) was an English clergyman and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1648. funded a professorship of "mathematick" at Cambridge University. Chair held by such professors as Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking
Joseph Lucas ‘King of the Road’
George Lucas, ‘Star Wars’ - properly the most well known Lucas living today. A line connecting him to the Cornish branch is now live.
David Lucas (1802–1881) Best known for his work of Mezzotint engraving John Constable’s landscape paintings. Born in Geddington Chase Northamptonshire in 1802, He was a Pupil of S W Reynolds between 1820 and 1827. He then moved to St George Hanover Square, London. [Very fashionable Pimlico district].
However he spent his last years in Fulham Union Workhouse.
HMS “Amphion The story of a Frigate built at Mistley in 1798
More detailed accounts of these characters and the family history are to be found elsewhere.