Show ContentsLaingyn 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. Laingyn originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Longain, which is derived from the word long, which means tall. 1

Early Origins of the Laingyn family

The surname Laingyn 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 Laingyn family

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

Laingyn Spelling Variations

Pronunciation, rather than spelling, guided scribes and church officials when recording names during the Middle Ages. This practice often resulted in one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Laingyn are preserved in these old documents. The various spellings of the name that were found include Langan, Longan, Langen, Longen, O'Lonagain, Langhan, Langin, O'Langane, O'Longane, O'Langan and many more.

Early Notables of the Laingyn family

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

Migration of the Laingyn family

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Laingyn family in 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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