Labor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Labor

What does the name Labor mean?

The Labor family name dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The name comes from when an early member worked as a person who worked as the laborer. This surname was originally derived from the common trades of the medieval era which transcended European cultural and linguistic boundaries. The laborer was also known as the taskman or the workman.

Early Origins of the Labor family

The surname Labor was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Labor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Labor research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1599, 1618 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Labor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Labor Spelling Variations

Labor has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Labor have been found, including Labourer, Labor, Laborer, Labour, Laboura, Laberer, Labberer and many more.

Early Notables of the Labor family

Thomas Laborer, a prominent 16th century landholder in Lancashire

Labor migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Labors to arrive on North American shores:

Labor Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Labor, who sailed to Virginia in 1652
William Labor, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Labor (post 1700) +

Earle Gene Labor (1928-2022), American writer and George Wilson Professor (Emeritus) of American Literature at Centenary College of Louisiana
Earl G Labor, American prominent professor of English literature

Sources +

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)