Longstaf History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Longstaf is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was a name given to a person who due to their occupation was given the name of Long staff. This nickname referred to those individuals who worked as a bailiff or an officer of the law who carried a log-staff that acted as a badge of office. 1

Another source notes that the name could denote a "sergeant, bailiff, catchpoll, or other officer of the law." 2

Early Origins of the Longstaf family

The surname Longstaf was first found in Westmorland where Richard Langstaff was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1210. In the same year, Hugo Longstaf was listed as a Freeman of Leicestershire. 3

There was only one record of the family in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, that of William Longstaf in Norfolk. 2 Another William Longstaff was later listed, 20 Edward III (during the twentieth year of King Edward III's reign.) 4

"Longstaff has been a Darlington, [Durham] name since the reign of James I. (1603-1625)" 5

Early History of the Longstaf family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Longstaf research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1660 and 1748 are included under the topic Early Longstaf History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Longstaf Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Longstaf were recorded, including Langstaff, Langstaffe, Longstaff, Longstaffe and others.

Early Notables of the Longstaf family

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

Longstaf 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. 6

Longstaf Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Elizabeth Longstaf, who settled in Barbados in 1680

Citations +

Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies