Show ContentsLandor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

During that dark period of history known as the Middle Ages, the name of Landor was first used in France. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of hereditary surname in France, occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. Many people, such as the Landor family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Landor was an occupational name for a grower of lavender. Looking back further, we find the name Landor was originally from the Old English word lavendier, which indicated someone of that profession.

One of the earliest records of the family was Maurice de Londres (died 1166), an Anglo-Norman noble. He was a son of William de Londres (died 1131), who was one of the Twelve Knights of Glamorgan, and his wife Matilda. He founded All Saints' Church, Oystermouth and Ewenny Priory in 1141. The priory of Ewenny contains his tomb.

Early Origins of the Landor family

The surname Landor was first found in Bedfordshire, where Almaric de Landres held lands in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the 13th century. He originated in Burgundy, France with the spelling Landres which is also a commune today in Lorraine. The northern-eastern location of the name in France makes the Norman influence very probable. [1]

At about the same time, Ysabelle la Lauendere was listed a census in 1253 and Ralf la Lavendered was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1268. Thomas Launder was listed in Yorkshire in 1331 and later Elyzabeth Lander was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1524. [2]

Early History of the Landor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Landor research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1217, 1221, 1260, 1550, 1575, 1659, 1665, 1775 and 1864 are included under the topic Early Landor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Landor Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Landers, Lander, Landes, Landis, Landor and others.

Early Notables of the Landor family

Notable among the family at this time was

  • Walter Savage Landor (1775-1864), English author of 'Imaginary Conversations' born on 30 Jan. 1775, was the eldest son of Walter Landor, by his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Savage. The...

Ireland Migration of the Landor family to Ireland

Some of the Landor family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 208 words (15 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Landor family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: John Lander who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1724; Samuel Lander settled in Georgia in 1737; William Landers and John Landers arrived in Philadelphia along with Michael in 1790.


Contemporary Notables of the name Landor (post 1700) +

  • Rosalyn Landor (b. 1958), English actress
  • Arnold Henry Savage Landor (1865-1924), English painter and anthropologist
  • Robert Eyres Landor (1781-1869), English writer and clergyman, brother of Walter
  • Walter Savage Landor (1775-1864), English writer


  1. 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)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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