Long History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Long

What does the name Long mean?

The ancient name Long is a Norman name that would have been developed in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This name was a name given to a person who was tall, big, or lanky. 1 The English Long family is descended from a Norman noble of Preux in Normandy. Also, known as Petrus de Longa, the family held estates in Normandy before and after the Conquest as in 1198 Emma de Longues was still listed in Normandy at that time. 2

The family name Long became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, when William the Conqueror gave his friends and relatives most of the land formerly owned by Anglo-Saxon aristocrats.

Early Origins of the Long family

The surname Long was first found in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

"It has evidently more than one home, the principal one being in Wilts [(Wiltshire)] and the neighbouring county of Gloucester; there is a second in Kent, and a third in Norfolk and Suffolk and their vicinity. According to Camden, the Wiltshire Longs are descended from a very tall attendant of Lord Treasurer Hungerford. However, we know that the Longs have been established in this part of England for many centuries, since we learn from the Hundredorum Rolls that the name was numerous in Oxfordshire, as well as in Cambridgeshire, in the reign of Edward I." 3

Another source explores the story further: "one of the family of Preux, an attendant on Lord Treasurer Hungerford, from his great height, acquired the sobriquet of Long Henry. On his marriage to a lady of quality he transposed this appellation to Henry Long, and became the founder of the Longs of Wiltshire." 4

As if to underscore Bardsley's comments above, Walter Hungerford, 1st Baron Hungerford (1378-1449) was made Lord High Treasurer in 1425, so the reader needs to take the rather romantic story of "Long Henry" as an oral tradition only.

In the aforementioned Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, we found early spellings of the name in various shires: Henry le Longe in Buckinghamshire; John le Longe in Huntingdonshire; and Walter le Longe in Shropshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johanna Long as residing there at that time. 5

Much further to the north in Scotland, one of the first listing there was Johannes Longus who witnessed a grant to the Hospital of Soltre, c. 1180-1214. William Longus held land near Lyntonrothrik, c. 1200 and , Adam Long appears in Dumfriesshire, c. 1259. A few years later, Gregory le Long was a burgess of Dundee in 1268 and William Long witnessed confirmation of Snawdoun to Dryburgh c. 1350. 6

Early History of the Long family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Long research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1391, 1419, 1447, 1451, 1478, 1489, 1508, 1517, 1556, 1560, 1575, 1581, 1594, 1600, 1607, 1610, 1613, 1617, 1621, 1630, 1631, 1637, 1659, 1673, 1692, 1838 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Long History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Long Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Long were recorded, including Long, Longe and others.

Early Notables of the Long family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Robert Long of Draycot Cerne (c.1391-1447), an English politician
John Long of Draycot Cerne (c.1419-1478), an English politician
Sir Thomas Long of Draycot (c.1451-1508), an English politician
Sir Henry Long (ca. 1489-1556)
Sir Robert Long (c. 1517-c.1581), High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1575
Sir Walter Long (1560-1610), an English knight and landowner
Sir Walter Long (c. 1594-1637), an English landowner, Member of Parliament for Westbury in 1621
Sir James Long, 2nd Baronet (c. 1617-1692), from South Wraxall, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, an English politician and Royalist soldier
Sir Robert Long, 1st Baronet (c.1600-1673) was an English courtier and administrator

Long World Ranking

In the United States, the name Long is the 86^th most popular surname with an estimated 228,804 people with that name. 7 However, in Canada, the name Long is ranked the 356^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,719 people with that name. 8 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Long is the 422^nd popular surname with an estimated 111 people with that name. 9 France ranks Long as 1,474^th with 3,949 people. 10 Australia ranks Long as 230^th with 14,858 people. 11 New Zealand ranks Long as 339^th with 1,855 people. 12 The United Kingdom ranks Long as 206^th with 27,518 people. 13

Migration of the Long family to Ireland

Some of the Long family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 137 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Long migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Long arrived in North America very early:

Long Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Long, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 14
Robert Long, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 aboard the ship "Anne" 14
Jane Long, who settled in Virginia in 1624
Ann Long, who landed in Virginia in 1633 14
Mr. Thomas Long, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1633 aboard the ship "Recovery" 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Long Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Abraham Long, who landed in Virginia in 1703 14
Sara Long, who landed in Virginia in 1704 14
Edward Long, who landed in Virginia in 1716 14
Conratt Long, aged 38, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 14
Chris Albrit Long, aged 32, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Long Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Long, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803-1827 14
Thomas Long, who landed in Connecticut in 1811 14
Mrs. Long, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 14
A Long, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 14
Archibald Long, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Long Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Barthilemy Long, who arrived in Arkansas in 1901 14

Long migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Long Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Sieur De Long, who arrived in Montreal in 1690

Long Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John Long U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 365 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 16
Mr. John Long U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 16
Mr. John Long U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Penobscot Association 16
Mr. Philip Long U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 16
Mr. James Long U.E. who settled in Digdeguash, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the 74th Regimen, is listed with the Loyalists and Disbanded Soldiers whose names appear as Passamaquoddy New Brunswick Loyalists 16

Long Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mary Long, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1820
M Long, aged 40, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1823
John Long, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
William Long, aged 30, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Hibernia" from Kinsale, Ireland
Mary Long, aged 28, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Hibernia" from Kinsale, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Long migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Long Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Robert Long, English convict from Nottingham, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 17
Mr. Francis Long, British Convict who was convicted in Dorset, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
Mr. John Long, English convict who was convicted in Southampton, Hampshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
Mr. William Long, (b. 1797), aged 18, English white smith who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for grand larceny, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1876 19
Mr. John Long, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Long migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Long Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William H. Long, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Evening Star" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in 1858 21
Mrs. Charlotte Long, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Evening Star" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in 1858 21
James Long, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wild Duck" in 1860
Roland C. Long, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aloe" in 1863
Miss Elizabeth Long, (b. 1844), aged 19, Cornish domestic servant departing on 20th October 1863 aboard the ship "Tiptree" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 20th January 1864 22
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Long migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 23

Long Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Henry Long, (b. 1613), aged 21, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 14
Mr. John Long, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Peter Bonaventure" arriving in Barbados and St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 24
Elizabeth Long, aged 21, who landed in Barbados in 1635 aboard the ship "Falcon" 14

Contemporary Notables of the name Long (post 1700) +

Thomas W. Long (1929-2024), American politician, Member of the New Jersey General Assembly (1983-1986)
Beth L. Long (1948-2024), American Republican politician who served in the Missouri House of Representatives
Kenneth Donald "Ken" Long (1953-2023), American football guard for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) in 1976
Dr. Donlin Long (1934-2023), American neurosurgeon and medical innovator
Michael R. Long (1940-2022), American politician, Chairman of the Conservative Party of New York State from December 1988 to January 2019
Verne Everett Long (1925-2022), American politician, Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives (1963-1974)
Matthew Clayton "Matt" Long (b. 1980), American actor, best known for playing Zeke Landon in the NBC drama Manifest (2019–2021)
Teresa Altagracia Lozano Long (1928-2021), American educator and philanthropist, supporting arts and education in Austin, Texas
Eugene Thomas Long III (1935-2020), American philosopher and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy in the University of South Carolina
Mary Catherine Small Long (1924-2019), née Small, an American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana (1985-1987)
... (Another 29 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Long family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Paul Daniel Long (1961-1985), American Captain from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 25

HMS Cornwall

Bernard William Long (d. 1942), British Musician aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 26

HMS Hood

Mr. George H Long (b. 1921), English Musician serving for the Royal Marine Band from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 27
Mr. Percy C B Long (b. 1923), English Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Chertsey, Surrey, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 27

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Andrew Long, British Stoker 2nd Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 28

HMS Repulse

Mr. James Long, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 29
Mr. Norman Long (b. 1913), English Ordinary Seaman from Stretford, Lancashire, England, who sailed on board the HMS Repulse (1941) and died prior to its sinking 29

HMS Royal Oak

Arthur Long (1921-1939), British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 30

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Harry Long, American 3rd Class passenger from Detroit, Michigan, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 31

RMS Titanic

Mr. Frank Long (d. 1912), aged 28, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 32
Mr. William Long (d. 1912), aged 30, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 32
Mr. Milton Clyde Long (d. 1912), aged 29, American First Class passenger from Springfield, Massachusetts who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 32

St. Francis Dam

Mr. C. J. Long, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

USS Arizona

Mr. Benjamin Franklin Long, American Chief Yeoman Permanent from North Carolina, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 33

USS Indianapolis

Joseph William Long, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 34

Vimy Ridge

Joseph William Long (1897-1917), Canadian farmer, Corporal in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge May 1917

The Long Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Pieux quoique preux
Motto Translation: Pious although chivalrous.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
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)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew