Langdown History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The lineage of the name Langdown begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in the villages of Langdon or Longdon which had several locations around England. This place-name literally refers to an area that was known for a long hill. [1] [2]

East Langdon and West Landgon in Kent are the oldest parishes bearing this name. They collectively date back to Saxon times when they were known as Langandune in 861; the parish of Langdon Hills is Essex, named Langenduna in the Domesday Book of 1086 follows. [3] By 1291, East and West Landgon were known as Estlangedoun and Westlangedone. [4]

Early Origins of the Langdown family

The surname Langdown was first found in Worcestershire where Aelfward aet Langadune was registered as an Old English Byname c. 1050. Later, Chetelburn de Lonedun was found in Warwickshire and Maurice de Landedun was listed in the Feet of Fines for Kent in 1201. In Staffordshire, Reginald de Langedon was registered there in the Assize Rolls of 1221 as was Alan de Longedon in Salop (Shropshire.) [5]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included entries for: Bartholomew de Langedon, Essex; Cecil de Langedon, Kent; and William de Langedone, Essex. [6]

In Somerset, John de Langedone was registered there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) [7]

Some of the family were found in Cornwall where "the manor of Grimscott, [in the parish of Launcells] which is now divided into small tenements, was formerly the property of the Langdons." [8]

Early History of the Langdown family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Langdown research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1587, 1791, 1434, 1398, 1400, 1478, 1741, 1819, 1660, 1739 and 1805 are included under the topic Early Langdown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Langdown Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Langdown has undergone many spelling variations, including Langdon, Landon, Langdown, Langsdown and others.

Early Notables of the Langdown family (pre 1700)

Distinguished members of the family include John Langdon (d. 1434), Bishop of Rochester, a native of Kent, and perhaps of Langdon, who was admitted a monk of Christ Church, Canterbury, in 1398. Afterwards he studied at Oxford, and graduated B.D. in 1400; according to his epitaph he was D.D. He is said to have belonged to Gloucester Hall, now Worcester College. According to another account he was warden of Canterbury College, which was connected with his monastery; but this may be an error...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Langdown Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Langdown migration to Canada +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Langdown were among those contributors:

Langdown Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Langdown, who settled in Nipper's Harbour in 1842
Charles Langdown, who settled in Jackson's Arm, Newfoundland in 1858 [9]

Contemporary Notables of the name Langdown (post 1700) +

Peggy Langdown, English political candidate for Ticehurst and Etchingham in the 2011 Rother District Council election
Tony Langdown, English political candidate for Oldfield in the 2007 Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council election
Maxwell Langdown, English poet from Dorset, known for co-writing the Country music hit "Always One Redneck Away From Loving You"
Stephen Langdown (b. 1992), Singapore Marital Arts competitor

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0