The now widespread name Lincoln originated in a city in eastern England. Its name is a contraction of the Latin Lindum Colonia, which was the name of a colony for veteran Roman soldiers. When the English counties (called "shires" at that time) were established in around the 11th century, Lincoln became the principal town of Lincolnshire. Various municipalities in the Commonwealth of Nations are named in honor of Lincoln, Lincolnshire.
The name Lincoln was later taken as a surname. The most widely known person with this surname is Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth President of the United States.