Langstrath History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Langstrath family

The surname Langstrath was first found in Yorkshire in the North Riding at Langstrothdale, a scenic valley in the Yorkshire Dales. Literally the place name means "of the lang strother," in other words, "the long marsh." 1

Another source claims the name is from the lands of Langthorp(e), also in North Yorkshire which was held Gospatrick, Earl of Northumberland who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. 2 In this case, the place name meant "outlying farmstead or hamlet of a woman called Langlif," from the Viking personal name + "thorpe." 3 Today, Langthorp is a township, in the parish of Kirkbyon-the-Moor, wapentake of Hallikeld. 4

Early records of the family are scarce. However, the Register of the University of Oxford records Richard Langstrothyr in 1448 and William Langstrother in 1450. 1

Early History of the Langstrath family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Langstrath research. Another 46 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1212, 1448, 1490, 1498, 1514, 1530, 1549 and 1676 are included under the topic Early Langstrath History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Langstrath Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Langthorpe, Lanthorp, Langthorp, Langthrop, Langthropp, Longthorp, Longthorpe, Longthrup, Longthropp, Langstroth, Langstrath, Langstreeth and many more.

Early Notables of the Langstrath family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Agnes Langstroth (1498-1530) an English woman who allegedly was the illegitimate daughter of Princess Bridget of York. Originally known as Agnes of Eltham, she was an orphan and ward of the Dartford Priory in Dartford, Kent. The Priory was also the home of Princess Bridget of York, younger sister to Elizabeth, queen...
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Langstrath Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Langstrath family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Langstrath or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.