Show ContentsLanghorthay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Langhorthay

What does the name Langhorthay mean?

The Langhorthay name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the regions of Langford which were in eight counties throughout England. Langhorthay is a habitation name from the broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Langhorthay family

The surname Langhorthay was first found in Bedfordshire at Langford, a village and civil parish alongside the River Ivel. With multiple listings of the same village throughout England (Bedfordshire, Essex, Nottinghamshire and as Langford Budville in Somerset), it is difficult to give a precise local for the surname's origin.

However, of all of them, the village in Bedfordshire has traditionally had the highest population over the years. Some are listed in the Domesday Book as follows: Langeford, Bedfordshire; Langheforda, Essex; and Landeforde, Nottinghamshire. 1

The place name literally means "long ford" from the Old English lang + ford. But the Nottinghamshire village could have been derived from "ford of a man called Landa" from the Old English personal name + ford. 2

There are other villages and parishes named Langford, in England but these are the oldest. The Cornwall local cannot be found today, but it is from this local that many of the family originated. Roger de Langford was sheriff of Cornwall in 1225. He took his surname from the parish of Marham Church. 3

While the town or parish of Langford cannot be found today, historical evidence of the family exists. "In 1620 Emanuel Langford possessed five parts out of six [of the manor of Liskeard Coelsehill." and "Tremabe, in [the parish of Liskeard], which was formerly a seat of the Langfords, is now a farm house. Langford-Hill [in the parish of Marham-Church] was formerly a seat belonging to an ancient family called Langford, of whom the last lineal descendant, Mrs. Flizabeth Hammet, died in 1783." 4

Early History of the Langhorthay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Langhorthay research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1229, 1625, 1652, 1656, 1683, 1713, 1716, 1725 and 1791 are included under the topic Early Langhorthay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Langhorthay 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 Langhorthay has undergone many spelling variations, including Langford, Langforde, Langfort, Longford and many more.

Early Notables of the Langhorthay family

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

Migration of the Langhorthay family to Ireland

Some of the Langhorthay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Langhorthay family

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 Langhorthay were among those contributors: Abraham Langford, who settled in Barbados with his servants in 1680; Harry Langford settled in New York in 1679; John Langford settled in Virginia in 1651.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print


Houseofnames.com on Facebook