Show ContentsLong History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Long Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Long

What does the name Long mean?

The ancient name Long is a Norman name that would have been developed in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This name was a name given to a person who was tall, big, or lanky. 1 The English Long family is descended from a Norman noble of Preux in Normandy. Also, known as Petrus de Longa, the family held estates in Normandy before and after the Conquest as in 1198 Emma de Longues was still listed in Normandy at that time. 2

The family name Long became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, when William the Conqueror gave his friends and relatives most of the land formerly owned by Anglo-Saxon aristocrats.

Early Origins of the Long family

The surname Long was first found in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

"It has evidently more than one home, the principal one being in Wilts [(Wiltshire)] and the neighbouring county of Gloucester; there is a second in Kent, and a third in Norfolk and Suffolk and their vicinity. According to Camden, the Wiltshire Longs are descended from a very tall attendant of Lord Treasurer Hungerford. However, we know that the Longs have been established in this part of England for many centuries, since we learn from the Hundredorum Rolls that the name was numerous in Oxfordshire, as well as in Cambridgeshire, in the reign of Edward I." 3

Another source explores the story further: "one of the family of Preux, an attendant on Lord Treasurer Hungerford, from his great height, acquired the sobriquet of Long Henry. On his marriage to a lady of quality he transposed this appellation to Henry Long, and became the founder of the Longs of Wiltshire." 4

As if to underscore Bardsley's comments above, Walter Hungerford, 1st Baron Hungerford (1378-1449) was made Lord High Treasurer in 1425, so the reader needs to take the rather romantic story of "Long Henry" as an oral tradition only.

In the aforementioned Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, we found early spellings of the name in various shires: Henry le Longe in Buckinghamshire; John le Longe in Huntingdonshire; and Walter le Longe in Shropshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johanna Long as residing there at that time. 5

Much further to the north in Scotland, one of the first listing there was Johannes Longus who witnessed a grant to the Hospital of Soltre, c. 1180-1214. William Longus held land near Lyntonrothrik, c. 1200 and , Adam Long appears in Dumfriesshire, c. 1259. A few years later, Gregory le Long was a burgess of Dundee in 1268 and William Long witnessed confirmation of Snawdoun to Dryburgh c. 1350. 6

Early History of the Long family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Long research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1391, 1419, 1447, 1451, 1478, 1489, 1508, 1517, 1556, 1560, 1575, 1581, 1594, 1600, 1607, 1610, 1613, 1617, 1621, 1630, 1631, 1637, 1659, 1673, 1692, 1838 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Long History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Long Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Long were recorded, including Long, Longe and others.

Early Notables of the Long family

  • Robert Long of Draycot Cerne (c.1391-1447), an English politician
  • John Long of Draycot Cerne (c.1419-1478), an English politician
  • Sir Thomas Long of Draycot (c.1451-1508), an English politician
  • Sir Henry Long (ca. 1489-1556)
  • Sir Robert Long (c. 1517-c.1581), High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1575
  • Sir Walter Long (1560-1610), an English knight and landowner
  • Sir Walter Long (c. 1594-1637), an English landowner, Member of Parliament for Westbury in 1621
  • Sir James Long, 2nd Baronet (c. 1617-1692), from South Wraxall, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, an English politician and Royalist soldier
  • Sir Robert Long, 1st Baronet (c.1600-1673) was an English courtier and administrator
  • Sir Lislebone Long (1613-1659), graduated from Magdalen Hall, Oxford 1630-1631

Long World Ranking

the United States, the name Long is the 86th most popular surname with an estimated 228,804 people with that name. 7 However, in Canada, the name Long is ranked the 356th most popular surname with an estimated 12,719 people with that name. 8 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Long is the 422nd popular surname with an estimated 111 people with that name. 9 France ranks Long as 1,474th with 3,949 people. 10 Australia ranks Long as 230th with 14,858 people. 11 New Zealand ranks Long as 339th with 1,855 people. 12 The United Kingdom ranks Long as 206th with 27,518 people. 13

Migration of the Long family to Ireland

Some of the Long family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 137 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Long migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Long arrived in North America very early:

Long Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Long, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 15
  • Robert Long, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 aboard the ship "Anne" 15
  • Jane Long, who settled in Virginia in 1624
  • Ann Long, who landed in Virginia in 1633 15
  • Mr. Thomas Long, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1633 aboard the ship "Recovery" 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Long Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Abraham Long, who landed in Virginia in 1703 15
  • Sara Long, who landed in Virginia in 1704 15
  • Edward Long, who landed in Virginia in 1716 15
  • Conratt Long, aged 38, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 15
  • Chris Albrit Long, aged 32, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Long Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Long, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803-1827 15
  • Thomas Long, who landed in Connecticut in 1811 15
  • Mrs. Long, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 15
  • Archibald Long, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 15
  • A Long, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Long Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Barthilemy Long, who arrived in Arkansas in 1901 15

Long migration to Canada +

Long Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Sieur De Long, who arrived in Montreal in 1690
Long Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Long U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 365 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 17
  • Mr. John Long U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 17
  • Mr. John Long U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Penobscot Association 17
  • Mr. Philip Long U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 17
  • Mr. James Long U.E. who settled in Digdeguash, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the 74th Regimen, is listed with the Loyalists and Disbanded Soldiers whose names appear as Passamaquoddy New Brunswick Loyalists 17
Long Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mary Long, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1820
  • M Long, aged 40, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1823
  • William Long, aged 30, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Hibernia" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • Mary Long, aged 28, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Hibernia" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • Mary Long, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Charity" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Long migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Miss Mary Long, (b. 1768), aged 19, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 14
  • Mr. William Long, British settler convicted at Hampshire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 15
Second Fleet
  • Mr. William Long, (d. 1791), British settler convicted in Devon, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Atlantic" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791, may have died on the ship 15
  • Mr. Ambrose Long, (Song), (d. 1792), British settler convicted in Devon, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Atlantic" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 15
Third Fleet
  • Mr. Joseph Long, (b. 1759), aged 28, English settler convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire on 23rd March 1785, sentenced for 14 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 15
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Long Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Long 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:

Long Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William H. Long, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Evening Star" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in 1858 22
  • Mrs. Charlotte Long, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Evening Star" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in 1858 22
  • James Long, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wild Duck" in 1860
  • Roland C. Long, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aloe" in 1863
  • Miss Elizabeth Long, (b. 1844), aged 19, Cornish domestic servant departing on 20th October 1863 aboard the ship "Tiptree" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 20th January 1864 23
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Long migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 24
Long Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Henry Long, (b. 1613), aged 21, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 15
  • Mr. John Long, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Peter Bonaventure" arriving in Barbados and St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 25
  • Elizabeth Long, aged 21, who landed in Barbados in 1635 aboard the ship "Falcon" 15

Contemporary Notables of the name Long (post 1700) +

  • Stephen Patrick Long FRS (1950-2025), British-born American environmental plant physiologist, member of the National Academy of Sciences studying how to improve photosynthesis to increase the yield of food and biofuel crops
  • Robert Andrew Long (1941-2025), American professional football player, a wide receiver in the National Football League (1964-1970), won two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers (1964-1967)
  • Thomas W. Long (1929-2024), American politician, Member of the New Jersey General Assembly (1983-1986)
  • Beth L. Long (1948-2024), American Republican politician who served in the Missouri House of Representatives
  • Kenneth Donald "Ken" Long (1953-2023), American football guard for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) in 1976
  • Dr. Donlin Long (1934-2023), American neurosurgeon and medical innovator
  • Michael R. Long (1940-2022), American politician, Chairman of the Conservative Party of New York State from December 1988 to January 2019
  • Verne Everett Long (1925-2022), American politician, Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives (1963-1974)
  • Matthew Clayton "Matt" Long (b. 1980), American actor, best known for playing Zeke Landon in the NBC drama Manifest (2019–2021)
  • ... (Another 32 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Paul Daniel Long (1961-1985), American Captain from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 26
  • Aubrey Cyril Long (1902-1943), Australian Private who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • George Eirmson Long (d. 1943), Australian Seaman who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • Bernard William Long (d. 1942), British Musician aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 27
  • Mr. George H Long (b. 1921), English Musician serving for the Royal Marine Band from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 28
  • ... (Another 15 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Long 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: Pieux quoique preux
Motto Translation: Pious although chivalrous.

Suggested Readings for the name Long +

  • The Big Long Family in America by Harvey Lawrence Long.
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. 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)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. 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)
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  9. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  10. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  11. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  12. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  13. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  14. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  15. 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)
  16. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  17. 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
  18. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  22. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  23. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  24. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  25. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  26. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  27. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  28. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm

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