Longstrother History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Longstrother family

The surname Longstrother 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 Longstrother family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Longstrother 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 Longstrother History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Longstrother Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Langthorpe, Lanthorp, Langthorp, Langthrop, Langthropp, Longthorp, Longthorpe, Longthrup, Longthropp, Langstroth, Langstrath, Langstreeth and many more.

Early Notables of the Longstrother 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 Longstrother Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Longstrother family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Longstrother 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.