Laman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The distinguished surname Laman emerged among the industrious people of Flanders, which was an important trading partner and political ally of Britain during the Middle Ages. As a result of the frequent commercial intercourse between the Flemish and English nations, many Flemish migrants settled in Britain. In early times, people were known by only a single name. However, as the population grew and people traveled further afield, it became increasingly necessary to assume an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. One of the most common classes of surname is the patronymic surname, which was usually derived from the first name of the person's father. Flemish surnames of this type are often characterized by the diminutive suffix -kin, which became very frequent in England during the 14th century. The surname Laman is derived from the Old French name Lambert. This is derived from the Old German names Lambert and Lanbert, which literally mean land-bright. The surname Laman is derived from the pet form Lamb, and features the diminutive suffix -in. 1

"The 'g' in Laming, &c, is excrescent, and the 'p' for 'b' in Lampin is a common exchange." 2

Early Origins of the Laman family

The surname Laman was first found in Kent where as a forename, Lambin Frese was listed in the Pipe Rolls in 1181. The Latin form of the name Lambinus was later listed in Kent in 1197 and in the Curia Regis Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1221. Later again, Robert Lambin was registered in the Subsidy Rolls for London in 1292. John Lanbyn was found in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1302 and in Berkshire in 1305. 3

"Lambyn Clay played before the King at Westminster, at the great festival in 1306 (Popular Music of the Olden Time, Chappell, i. 29'). Later the 'b' has been dropped, and Laming or Lamming are the usual forms, especially in Lincolnshire, where Lambert (owing to Flemish immigration) was exceedingly common in the surname period." 2

The Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III listed Henry Lambin, London, 20 Edward I; and Edmund Lambin, London. 2

In Scotland, "Lambyn Asa had a grant of the lands of Draffan and Dardarach, c. 1147-1160. He gave name to the manor of Lamington in Lanarkshire. William, son of Lambyn, held a toft in Perth, c. 1200." 4

Farther to the south in the parish of Linkinghorne, Cornwall "the monks seem to have held the great tithes until the Reformation; soon after which they became vested in the family of Lampen, by whom those on the eastern side of the Lynher were sold about the year 1680 to the family of CloBerry. " 5

"The manor of Padreda, [in the parish Linkinghorne, Cornwall] of which contained a seat of the Lampens, was sold by that family about the year 1680; soon after which it lost its manorial rights." 5

Early History of the Laman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laman research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1379, 1683 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Laman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laman Spelling Variations

Flemish surnames are characterized by a large number of spelling variations. One reason for this is that medieval English lacked definite spelling rules. The spellings of surnames were also influenced by the official court languages, which were French and Latin. Names were rarely spelled consistently in medieval times. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to specific spelling rules, and people often had their names registered in several different forms throughout their lives. One of the greatest reasons for change is the linguistic uniqueness of the Flemish settlers in England, who spoke a language closely related to Dutch. The pronunciation and spelling of Flemish names were often altered to suit the tastes of English-speaking people. In many cases, the first, final, or middle syllables of surnames were eliminated. The name has been spelled Lambin, Lampen, Lampin, Lamin, Laming, Lammin, Lamming, Lambing, Lamping, Lambyn, Lamyn, Lambingham, Lammin and many more.

Early Notables of the Laman family

More information is included under the topic Early Laman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laman migration to the United States +

The records on immigrants and ships' passengers show a number of people bearing the name Laman:

Laman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Laman, aged 40, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 6

Laman migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Laman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Laman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1861

Contemporary Notables of the name Laman (post 1700) +

Samuel Laman Blanchard (1804-1845), commonly known as Laman Blanchard, an English author, born at Great Yarmouth on 15 May 1804, the only son of Samuel Blanchard, a painter and glazier 7
Laman Ingersoll (1805-1863), American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Chenango County 2nd District, 1851 8

The Laman Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Agnus Dei mihi salus
Motto Translation: The lamb of God is my salvation

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 5 Feb. 2019
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html