Longe History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe proud Norman name of Longe was developed in England soon after Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It was name for a person who was tall, big, or lanky. 1 The English Longe 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 Longe 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 Longe familyThe surname Longe 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 Longe familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Longe 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 Longe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Longe Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Longe have been found, including Long, Longe and others. Early Notables of the Longe familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was 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... Migration of the Longe family to IrelandSome of the Longe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Longe were among those contributors: Longe Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Longe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
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.
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