Show ContentsLongen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

There are many Irish surnames being used today in forms that are quite different than their original, ancient forms. Longen originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Longain, which is derived from the word long, which means tall. 1

Early Origins of the Longen family

The surname Longen was first found in Down (Irish:An Dún) part of the Province of Ulster, in Northern Ireland, formerly known as county St Mirren, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Longen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Longen research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1689 and 1758 are included under the topic Early Longen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Longen Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Longen that are preserved in archival documents are Langan, Longan, Langen, Longen, O'Lonagain, Langhan, Langin, O'Langane, O'Longane, O'Langan and many more.

Early Notables of the Longen family

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

Migration of the Longen family

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Longen to North America: Laurence Langan, an 'enforced emigrant' from Ireland, who arrived in America in 1743; John Longan, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1775; William Langen, who sailed to Pennsylvania in 1777.



  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)


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