Surname Langden - Meaning and Origin

Langden: What does the surname Langden mean?

The last name Langden is of English origin and is derived from a place-name that is derived from two Old English words: langdūn, meaning “long hill” or “long down,” and lēah, meaning “a clearing in a wood” or “meadow.” In some instances, the name Langden can also refer to someone who came from a place called Langton, which is derived from the Old English words langa-tūn, meaning “long house/dwelling.”

The Langden surname dates back to the early 11th century, when the Normans brought it to England and Ireland. The name can be found in records from the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, and later found in counties such as Middlesex, Lancashire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and Cambridge.

In the United States, the Langden surname came with English immigrants as part of the Great Migration from the 1620s to the 1760s, when thousands of English immigrants arrived in the New World. The surname is most common in the states of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and California, though it can be found in most other states.

The Langden surname has several variations, including Landon, Laing, Lane, Langham, Langman, Langton, Langston, and Lancaster. It was carried by various notable people in history, including English clergyman John Langton (1545–1608), Irish politician and author Joseph Langdon (1739–1821), and actress and singer Julianne Langden (1977–present), among others.

Langden: Where does the name Langden come from?

The Langden surname has had a long history in England, and today is most commonly found in northern England, especially in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Durham. The most popular concentration of Langdens can be found in the North West of England, particularly the cities of Manchester and Liverpool. According to one survey published in 2019, the Langden surname is the fourth-most common surname in Lancashire, with more than 4,000 people bearing that name.

The large populations of people bearing the Langden surname are also seen beyond England. A sizable number of Langdens have emigrated to the United States over the years, particularly in the last two centuries, settling across the country. Similarly, a number of Langdens have made their home in Canada, with a prevalent community in British Columbia.

The Langden surname also appears in the Netherlands, with a high concentration of Langdens located in the provinces of Utrecht and Gelderland. Canada and the Netherlands are the two countries outside of England with the most Langdens.

Although it originated in England, the Langden surname can now be found all over the world, from Europe to North America. No matter the country, Langdens continue to maintain a strong sense of family and community.

Variations of the surname Langden

The surname Langden is a locative surname derived from any of several places called Langden in the English regions of Lancashire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire. Spelling variations of this surname include Langdon, Langdin, Lankden, Langdenne, Langdene, and Lankdene. All of these surnames were created by further anglicization of the native Old English spelled “Langden.”

The earliest recorded surname appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 as Willelmus de Langdon. Many records show that the Langdens were a prominent family of landowners from the earliest records. The last name Langdon is also an Americanization of the same surname.

The surname Langden is also associated with a number of variant spellings and surnames. Langdon can also be spelled as Langdin, Lankden, Laygden, Langdenne and Langdene. Additional surnames associated with Langden are Langeden, Langdine, Lankdene, Lanksden and Langeeden.

In Scotland, the spellings Langeden and Langedone were recorded in the 13th century. The spellings Langeden, Langdone and Lonnden were recorded in the 14th century as well.

Modern variants of the surname Langden include Langdon, Lankdon, Langdin, Langdene, Langdenne, Lankden, Lankdene, Laygden, and Lonnen. Variants in other languages include Langden in Dutch and Lagden in English.

The surname Langdon was first found in Lancashire, where the family held a family seat from very ancient times. Early instances of the surname Langden date to the 14th century in Derbyshire, and a branch of the family was found in Yorkshire in the same time period.

Famous people with the name Langden

• Tom Langden: an American actor who is best known for his roles on shows such as Dawson’s Creek, House, and Grey’s Anatomy.
• Miranda Langden: an Australian actress who is known for her role in the supernatural horror film The Babadook.
• Madeline Langden: a British fashion designer and model who has been featured in Harper's Bazaar and other magazines.
• Matthew Langden: a British film director who has directed movies such as The Descent, Eden Lake and Retreat.
• Julianne Langden: an American actress who is known for her roles in films such as The Prestige, The Martial Arts Kid, and Return to the Hiding Place.
• William Langden: an Australian professional surfer and media personality who joined the popular show Bondi Rescue and now works as a presenter and spokesperson for surfing competitions.
• Jesse Langden: an American actor who has appeared in several films, such as Rambo III, Police Academy 6, and Midnight Crossing.
• John Langden: an English artist who is noted for his semi-abstract landscape paintings and public installations.
• Joshua Langden: a British actor who had a prominent role in popular British soap opera EastEnders, and has also starred in films such as Alien Versus Predator and Shallow Grave.
• James Langden: an American musician and singer-songwriter who has released three albums to date, including The Lost Art of Darkness, Dead Letters, and The Desolation Papers.

Other surnames

LangdonLangdown