Long History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  France 
  Ireland 
  Scotland 


The ancient name Long is a Norman name that would have been developed in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This name was a name given to a person who was tall, big, or lanky. 1 The English Long family is descended from a Norman noble of Preux in Normandy. Also, known as Petrus de Longa, the family held estates in Normandy before and after the Conquest as in 1198 Emma de Longues was still listed in Normandy at that time. 2

The family name Long became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, when William the Conqueror gave his friends and relatives most of the land formerly owned by Anglo-Saxon aristocrats.

Early Origins of the Long family

The surname Long was first found in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

"It has evidently more than one home, the principal one being in Wilts [(Wiltshire)] and the neighbouring county of Gloucester; there is a second in Kent, and a third in Norfolk and Suffolk and their vicinity. According to Camden, the Wiltshire Longs are descended from a very tall attendant of Lord Treasurer Hungerford. However, we know that the Longs have been established in this part of England for many centuries, since we learn from the Hundredorum Rolls that the name was numerous in Oxfordshire, as well as in Cambridgeshire, in the reign of Edward I." 3

Another source explores the story further: "one of the family of Preux, an attendant on Lord Treasurer Hungerford, from his great height, acquired the sobriquet of Long Henry. On his marriage to a lady of quality he transposed this appellation to Henry Long, and became the founder of the Longs of Wiltshire." 4

As if to underscore Bardsley's comments above, Walter Hungerford, 1st Baron Hungerford (1378-1449) was made Lord High Treasurer in 1425, so the reader needs to take the rather romantic story of "Long Henry" as an oral tradition only.

In the aforementioned Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, we found early spellings of the name in various shires: Henry le Longe in Buckinghamshire; John le Longe in Huntingdonshire; and Walter le Longe in Shropshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johanna Long as residing there at that time. 5

Much further to the north in Scotland, one of the first listing there was Johannes Longus who witnessed a grant to the Hospital of Soltre, c. 1180-1214. William Longus held land near Lyntonrothrik, c. 1200 and , Adam Long appears in Dumfriesshire, c. 1259. A few years later, Gregory le Long was a burgess of Dundee in 1268 and William Long witnessed confirmation of Snawdoun to Dryburgh c. 1350. 6

Early History of the Long family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Long research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1391, 1419, 1447, 1451, 1478, 1489, 1508, 1517, 1556, 1560, 1575, 1581, 1594, 1600, 1607, 1610, 1613, 1617, 1621, 1630, 1631, 1637, 1659, 1673, 1692, 1838 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Long History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Long Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Long were recorded, including Long, Longe and others.

Early Notables of the Long family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Long World Ranking

In the United States, the name Long is the 86th most popular surname with an estimated 228,804 people with that name. 7 However, in Canada, the name Long is ranked the 356th most popular surname with an estimated 12,719 people with that name. 8 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Long is the 422nd popular surname with an estimated 111 people with that name. 9 France ranks Long as 1,474th with 3,949 people. 10 Australia ranks Long as 230th with 14,858 people. 11 New Zealand ranks Long as 339th with 1,855 people. 12 The United Kingdom ranks Long as 206th with 27,518 people. 13

Migration of the Long family to Ireland

Some of the Long family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 137 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Long migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Long arrived in North America very early:

Long Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Long Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Long Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Long Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Long migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Long Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
Long Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Long Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Long migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Long Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Long 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:

Long Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Long 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. 23
Long Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Long (post 1700) +


The Long Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Pieux quoique preux
Motto Translation: Pious although chivalrous.


Suggested Readings for the name Long +
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