Show ContentsLandy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Landy is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was given to a person who was a person or officer who was in charge of washing derived from the Middle English word "lavendrie." 1 2

However other source disagree. One course claims the name is a "descendant of Landry (country, powerful)" 3 and another claims the name is from the "Anglo-Saxon, a landríca, specifically a ‘lord of the manor,’ ‘land­lord,’ ‘ local magnate.’ " 4

Early Origins of the Landy family

The surname Landy was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Landri and Landricus were registered. 5 Later, Gerard Landri was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Devon in 1198. In Lincolnshire, Willelmus filius Landrei was registered in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1219 and later in Somerset, Ricardus de la Lavendaria was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1219. Again in Somerset, Robert de la Lauendrie was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1278. 1

In Somerset, we found these early entries, 1 Edward III (during the reign of King Edward III): William le Lavender, Somerset; and Roger atte Louendrye, Somerset. 6

"This surname has crossed the Atlantic and flourishes in the States, although all but extinct in England." 2

Early History of the Landy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Landy research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1086 is included under the topic Early Landy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Landy Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Landy family name include Landry, Landray, Landrey, Laundry and others.

Early Notables of the Landy family

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

Landy Ranking

In the United States, the name Landy is the 15,151st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7

Ireland Migration of the Landy family to Ireland

Some of the Landy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Landy migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name Landy or a variant listed above:

Landy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Landy, who arrived in New York in 1837
  • Bridget Landy, who settled in Boston in 1847
  • James Landy, who arrived in New York in 1876

Canada Landy migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Landy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Captain Landy, who arrived in Quebec in 1814
  • Joanna Landy, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1842
  • James Landy, who settled in Toronto in 1871

Australia Landy migration to Australia +

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

Landy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Landy, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "David Lyon" on 29th April 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Landy (post 1700) +

  • Thomas F. Landy, American politician, Burgess of Shamokin, Pennsylvania, 1953-56 9
  • James Landy (1813-1875), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 3rd District, 1857-59 9
  • David P. Landy, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 26th District, 1982 9
  • Avrom Landy, American politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 4th District, 1941 9
  • Sandra Landy (1938-2017), née Ogilvie, English women's world championship contract bridge player
  • John Michael Landy AC CVO MBE FTSE OLY (1930-2022), Australian middle-distance runner and politician, the second man to break the four-minute mile barrier in the mile run and held the world records for the 1500-metre run and the mile race, 26th Governor of Victoria from 2001 to 2006
  • Landy Mattison (b. 1983), American soccer defender


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  5. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-lyon
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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