Show ContentsLayng History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Layng surname date from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name originated with an early member who was a person who was considered long or tall. The name occurs in Old English charters as early as 972 A.D, as Aetheric thes langa. Of the many surnames in England, the surname Layng is considered among etymologists to be one of the oldest. It belongs to a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames. As a nickname surname Layng could refer either directly or indirectly to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character.

Early Origins of the Layng family

The surname Layng was first found in Northumberland where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Layng family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Layng research. Another 201 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1357, 1394, 1467 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Layng History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Layng Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Layng has been recorded under many different variations, including Lang, Lange, Laing, Layng and others.

Early Notables of the Layng family

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

Ireland Migration of the Layng family to Ireland

Some of the Layng family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 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 Layng family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Layng or a variant listed above: Robert Laing who settled in Maryland in 1722; Alexander Laing settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1775; Gilbert Laing settled in New York State in 1820.


Contemporary Notables of the name Layng (post 1700) +

  • John R. Layng, American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, 1933 [1]
  • Sally Layng, American actress, known for Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond (1959), The Odd Man (1960) and Emergency-Ward 10 (1957)
  • Tony Layng (b. 1950), American actor, known for One Too Many, In a Lonely Place and Flying Leathernecks (1951)
  • Lissa Layng (b. 1984), American actress, known for Night of the Comet, The Dollhouse Murders (1992) and Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981)
  • Kathryn Alyssa Layng (b. 1960), American actress, known for her roles in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989), White Frog (2012) and The Marrying Man (1991)
  • Thomas Malcolm Layng CBE MC & Bar, MA (1892-1958), English Anglican soldier and clergyman, Deputy Chaplain-General to the Forces, Archdeacon of York (1946-1947)
  • Thomas Layng (1861-1930), English educator and Church of England priest


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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