Show ContentsLangille History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Langille

What does the name Langille mean?

The name Langille is an old name from Normandy. It comes from when the family lived in Normandy, at Longueville.

Early Origins of the Langille family

The surname Langille was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy. The name was "a branch of the house of Giffard, barons of Langueville and Bolbec near Dieppe, Normandy. Osberne de Longueville or Bolbec, with William de Bolbec, Robert Malet, and Gilbert de Menill c. 990, gave the church of Pictariville, Normandy, to religious uses." 1

"Henry de Longavilla in 1165 held Lovetot Overton (now called Orton) Longueville in Huntingdonshire, England. Roger de Longueville is mentioned in the same county about 1200 as was William in Herts, and Richard in Buckinghamshire 1190-98. In the early part of the fourteenth century, the existing church of Overton-Longueville was built by one the family, supposed to be commemorated by the mutilated effigy of a knight placed between the chancel and the North chantry. Some have, assigned it to a much earlier date. The knight lies cross legged, with a heater shield on his right arm, and a couchant lion at his feet. In any case it is clear that he was a soldier of the Cross, and the ghastly legend attached to him, and preserved by Bishop Kennet, must be based on some desperate encounter with a Paynum in the Holy Land." 2

"The descendants of the Norman Longueville became Lords of Overton. co. Huntingdon, and Wolverton, Bucks; and in one branch vested the barony of Grey de Ruthin. During the great civil war, they arrayed themselves under the royal banner, and suffered, in consequence, loss and confiscation. The chief of the house, Sir Edward Longueville, of Wolverton, was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles I. " 3

Early History of the Langille family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Langille research. Another 286 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1397, 1464, 1619, 1646, 1656, 1679, 1746 and 1747 are included under the topic Early Langille History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Langille Spelling Variations

There were a great number of spelling variations in French surnames. One reason for this was the wide variety of cultural influences present in France during the early development of the French language. The many spelling variations of the name include Longeville, Longevilles, Longueville, Longuevilles, Longville, Longvilles, Longevil, Longvils, Longvile, Longviles, Longevil, Longevils, Langueville, Longevile, Longeviles, Languille, Longuevil, Langeville, Longuevils, Longuevile, Longueviles, de Longeville, de Longevilles, de Longueville, de Longuevilles, de Longville, de Longvilles, Loungeville, Loungville, Longeville de and many more.

Early Notables of the Langille family

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


Langille migration to the United States +

In 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec, in 1663 there were only 500, 2,000 migrants arrived during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. Youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries. Migration from France to New France or Quebec as it was now more popularly called, continued from France until it fell in 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many distinguished contributions have been made by members of this family name Langille. It has been prominent in the arts, religion, politics and culture in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Langille were

Langille Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Harold D. Langille, aged 40, who immigrated to Portland, Oregon, in 1914
  • Percy C. Langille, aged 18, who settled in America, in 1918
  • Wesley Langille, who landed in America, in 1919
  • Clarence W. Langille, aged 21, who settled in America, in 1919
  • David Langille, aged 63, who landed in America, in 1919
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Langille migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Langille Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Everett Langille, aged 23, who immigrated to Halifax, N.S., Canada, in 1922
  • Helen Langille, aged 25, who settled in Halifax, N.S., Canada, in 1923
  • Jean Langille, aged 6, who immigrated to Halifax, N. S., Canada, in 1923
  • Leroy Langille, aged 40, who settled in Halifax, N S, Canada, in 1923

Contemporary Notables of the name Langille (post 1700) +

  • Carole Glasser Langille, American-born, Canadian poet, the author of three books of poetry
  • William H. "Bill" Langille (1944-2020), Canadian tree farmer, police officer and politician in Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Edward M. Langille (b. 1959), Canadian professor of French at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia

Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Joseph  Langille, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 4
  • Mrs. Clara May  Langille (1889-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 4


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
  3. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  4. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance


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