Show ContentsLander History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

During that dark period of history known as the Middle Ages, the name of Lander was first used in France. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of hereditary surname in France, occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. Many people, such as the Lander family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Lander was an occupational name for a grower of lavender. Looking back further, we find the name Lander was originally from the Old English word lavendier, which indicated someone of that profession.

One of the earliest records of the family was Maurice de Londres (died 1166), an Anglo-Norman noble. He was a son of William de Londres (died 1131), who was one of the Twelve Knights of Glamorgan, and his wife Matilda. He founded All Saints' Church, Oystermouth and Ewenny Priory in 1141. The priory of Ewenny contains his tomb.

Early Origins of the Lander family

The surname Lander was first found in Bedfordshire, where Almaric de Landres held lands in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the 13th century. He originated in Burgundy, France with the spelling Landres which is also a commune today in Lorraine. The northern-eastern location of the name in France makes the Norman influence very probable. 1

At about the same time, Ysabelle la Lauendere was listed a census in 1253 and Ralf la Lavendered was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1268. Thomas Launder was listed in Yorkshire in 1331 and later Elyzabeth Lander was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1524. 2

Early History of the Lander family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lander research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1217, 1221, 1260, 1550, 1575, 1659, 1665, 1775 and 1864 are included under the topic Early Lander History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lander Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Landers, Lander, Landes, Landis, Landor and others.

Early Notables of the Lander family

Notable among the family at this time was Walter Savage Landor (1775-1864), English author of 'Imaginary Conversations' born on 30 Jan. 1775, was the eldest son of Walter Landor, by his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Savage. The Landors had been settled for some generations at Rugeley, Staffordshire. Their descendant's fancy ennobled his ancestry, and he believed, gratuitously as it seems, that one of his mother's ancestors was Arnold Savage, speaker of the House of Commons in the reign of Henry VII. The elder Landor was a physician, but after coming to his inheritance...
Another 94 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lander Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lander Ranking

In the United States, the name Lander is the 6,482nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3

Ireland Migration of the Lander family to Ireland

Some of the Lander family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 208 words (15 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Lander migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lander Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Peter Lander, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 4
  • David Lander, who landed in Maryland in 1716 4
  • Thomas Lander, who settled in Annapolis in 1719
  • John Lander who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1724
  • Samuel Lander, who settled in Georgia in 1737
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lander Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jonas Lander, aged 28, who landed in New York in 1804 4
  • Anthony Lander, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1836 4
  • Katherina Lander, who settled in Texas in 1843
  • Michael Lander, aged 55, who arrived in Missouri in 1846 4
  • John Calvert Lander, who arrived in New York in 1846 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lander Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Daniel H. Lander, (b. 1874), aged 26, Cornish carpenter, from St Ives, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 17th March 1900 en route to Red Jacket, Michigan, USA 5

Canada Lander migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lander Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Andrew Lander U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
Lander Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Stepen Lander was the owner of a fishing room at Bayleys Cove, Newfoundland in 1806 7
  • William Lander, who settled in Catalina, Newfoundland in 1808 7
  • Mr. Joseph Lander, (b. 1831), aged 24, Cornish tailor departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he died in the sinking 8
  • Mrs. Ann Lander, (b. 1833), aged 22, Cornish settler departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, she died in the sinking 8

Australia Lander migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Lander Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Lander, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life for high treason, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he was part of the Despard Plot in 1802 to kill King George III 9
  • Mr. Charles Lander, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Caledonia" in 19th June 1822, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
  • Mr. Robert Lander, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st September 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Miss Agnes Lander, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. William Lander, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 27th May 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Lander 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:

Lander Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Lander, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836 aboard the ship Aquillain
  • Alfred Lander, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Charles Lander, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • David Lander, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Frederick Lander, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Lander (post 1700) +

  • Eric Steven Lander (b. 1957), American mathematician and geneticist, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Nominee
  • David L. Lander (1947-2020), American character actor, comedian, musician, and baseball scout, best known for his portrayal of Squiggy on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley
  • James Albert "Jim" Lander (1930-2020), American politician, Comptroller General of South Carolina (1999-2003)
  • William Lander (1817-1868), American Democratic Party politician, Member of North Carolina House of Commons from Lincoln County, 1852-53
  • Sarah Lander, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1952
  • Samuel Lander, American politician, Delegate to Illinois State Constitutional Convention Livingston and McLean counties, 1847
  • R. Walter Lander, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York Democratic State Committee, 1942
  • Jesse Dewayne Lander (1892-1960), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Alaska territorial House of Representatives 4th District, 1939-46; Speaker of Alaska Territory House of Representatives, 1945-46
  • Charles H. Lander, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Arkansas 4th District, 1874
  • Mrs. Patricia Eve Lander M.B.E., British Deputy Headteacher for Colnbrook Special Needs School in Watford, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities 14
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Edward Harris Lander, American 2nd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking by escaping on life boat 7 it is believed then a collapsible 15
SS Atlantic
  • Mr. Christian Lander, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking


Suggested Readings for the name Lander +

  • History of the Landers Family in America by Simon Elbert Booner.

  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  6. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  7. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  8. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/wreck_of_emigrant_ship_john_1855.pdf
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
  14. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 4 July 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1
  15. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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