Surname Langhorn - Meaning and Origin

Langhorn: What does the surname Langhorn mean?

The last name Langhorn is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is derived from the Olde English words Lang and Horn, meaning long and horn respectively. It is a locative name, referring to a person who lived near a specific feature, such as a long horn-like object, typically a monumental stone or rock formation.

It is possible that the name was also occupational in origin, referring to a person who lived in an area that raised horns, such as a sheep farmer who would have used horns as a form of decoration on their buildings. In the sense of being a nickname, the surname Langhorn could also refer to a person who was particularly good at producing or playing horns, a skill which would have been essential in medieval times to call villagers or alert the population to military threats. Other interpretations of the name also include a person who was skilled in playing or producing long horns, and may have been the owner of a small corporation or trade guild that made use of them.

Regardless of its historical origin, the surname Langhorn is an interesting and unique one, reflective of the past culture and lifestyles of its initial bearers. In modern times, it can be seen as a symbol of one’s heritage, of a shared history shared by those with the same surname.

Langhorn: Where does the name Langhorn come from?

The surname Langhorn is a fairly uncommon name today; however, it is concentrated primarily in the United States, particularly in the Midwest region. In the 2000 US Census, the surname Langhorn was found in 2,313 households. In terms of density, the highest concentration of the Langhorn family name is found in Iowa with 369 recorded specimens. Other states where a high concentration of Langhorn is found include Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas, with Indiana having the fifth highest concentration.

The Langhorn surname finds its origins with a Scottish clan, which emerged in early medieval times. It is said to derive from “lang”, meaning “long” or “tall”, and “horn”, meaning “horns” or “pointed” - possibly referring to a horned animal figure appearing on the clan crest. Today, the Langhorn crest is still employed by heritage societies and organizations such as the Clan MacLehose Society in Scotland, as well as other associations.

Despite their current spread across the United States, the Langhorn family name has had a long presence in Scotland and can be found in several age-old documents and records. Even though Langhorn may not be a very common, or popular, surname today, it is still an intriguing one - with an ancient, inspiring and powerful origin.

Variations of the surname Langhorn

The surname Langhorn is often spelled several different ways. It can be spelled as Langhorne, Langerhorn, Langhearne, Langern, Langhorn, or Langurne. The variety of spellings derives from old scribes and church officials recording names as they were pronounced, and later a common spelling would evolve.

The surname may have originated as a topographic surname, derived from a geographic feature near the person's residence, or as a habitational name, derived from a place name. It is said to have derived from a place in Scotland known as Langhearne, which is located in Forfarshire. It is likely that the name was derived from the Old English language and means "longarm and horn."

The Langhorn surname is also fairly common in the United States, in the form of Langhorne. It may have been brought to the US by settlers from Scotland or the British Isles. Many of the earlier families of the name Langhorn were United Empire Loyalists who moved to North America from Scotland after the American Revolution.

Variations of the surname also exist in other countries. In England, it is spelled as Langhearne and, in Germany, as Langerhorn. There are also variations in most European countries such as Langerhorne, Langehorn, and Langh publishermurne.

In some cases, the surname Langhorn may be combined with other surnames to form a double barrel surname. One example is Langhorn-Coppin, meaning "Coppin of the Long Horn".

No matter which spelling or variant is used, the surname Langhorn is mainly associated with Scotland and Britain.

Famous people with the name Langhorn

• Will ‘Spank’ Langhorne: Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
• Cora Langhorne Clay: First Lady of Virginia from 1930 to 1934.
• Tina Loughnane: Irish television presenter and journalist.
• Dabney Herndon Maury: Confederate Commander and American railroad engineer.
• Philip Francis Langhorne: Theologian and clergyman from Australia.
• Frances Anne “Fanny” Kemble: British actress and playwright.
• Elisabeth Langhorne: American socialite, philanthropist and artist.
• Andrew Langhorne: Scottish professional footballer.
• Virginia Langhorne: American model, photographer and video artist.
• Richard Langhorne: British Parliamentarian and the Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Erewash from 1910 to 1918. 11. Zac Langhorne: American singer-songwriter.

Other surnames

LanghorneLanghorst