Longstaff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Longstaff is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was a name for someone who was 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 Longstaff family

The surname Longstaff 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 Longstaff family

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

Longstaff Spelling Variations

Longstaff 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 Longstaff have been found, including Langstaff, Langstaffe, Longstaff, Longstaffe and others.

Early Notables of the Longstaff family

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

Longstaff 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 Longstaffs to arrive on North American shores:

Longstaff Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jonathan Longstaff, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 6
Edward Longstaff, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1872 6
George W. Longstaff, aged 43, who landed in America, in 1893
Robert Longstaff, aged 9, who landed in America from Stockton, in 1899

Longstaff Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Charlotte Longstaff, aged 42, who settled in America from Spalding, in 1901
Elizabeth A. Longstaff, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1903
Mrs Llewellyn W. Longstaff, aged 56, who immigrated to the United States from Surrey, in 1903
K.L. Longstaff, aged 23, who landed in America from Surrey, in 1903
M.L. Longstaff, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Surrey, in 1903
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Longstaff migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Longstaff Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Longstaff, (b. 1831), aged 28, English farm labourer, from Yorkshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Robert Small" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th January 1860 7
Mrs. Hannah Longstaff, (b. 1833), aged 26, English settler, from Yorkshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Robert Small" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th January 1860 7
Mr. John Longstaff, (b. 1853), aged 6, English settler, from Yorkshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Robert Small" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th January 1860 7
Miss Hannah Mary Longstaff, (b. 1855), aged 4, English settler, from Yorkshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Robert Small" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th January 1860 7
Tom Longstaff, aged 47, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1875 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Longstaff (post 1700) +

George W. Longstaff (1850-1901), English-born, American architect practicing in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Francis A. Longstaff (b. 1956), American educator and pioneer in quantitative finance
Joshua "Josh" Longstaff (b. 1982), American head coach of the Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League
Ronald Earl Longstaff (b. 1941), American jurist, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (2006-), Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (2001-2006)
John Longstaff (1863-1946), American Republican politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 23rd District, 1903-04; Member of South Dakota State Senate 15th District, 1945-46 9
Sean Longstaff (b. 1997), English professional footballer who plays for Blackpool
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Llewellyn Wood Longstaff (1841-1918), English industrialist and member of the Royal Geographical Society
Albert Edward Longstaff (1885-1949), English footballer from Brighton, he played from 1902 to 1925
Fred Longstaff (1890-1916), English professional rugby league footballer
Abie Longstaff, Australian-born British author of children's fiction, best known for her The Fairytale Hairdresser picture book series
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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.
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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html