Find out how popular the last name Lang is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Lang.

Lang, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Lang surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lang in America

Lang is the 545th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lang surname appeared 61,529 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 21 people would have the surname Lang.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lang to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Lang

The surname Lang is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "lang," meaning "tall" or "long." It first emerged in various counties across England, including Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Yorkshire, during the 12th and 13th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Lang surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Lange" in Norfolk. This ancient record provides evidence of the name's existence during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the Lang surname was prevalent in Yorkshire, where it was often associated with place names such as Langtoft and Langthorp. Notable individuals from this period include William Lang de Langtoft, a 13th-century chronicler, and John Lang of Langthorp, who lived in the late 13th century.

During the 15th century, the Lang surname gained prominence in Scotland, particularly in the counties of Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. One notable figure from this era was Andrew Lang, a Scottish historian and poet born in 1844 and died in 1912.

In Germany, the Lang surname has roots dating back to the 16th century, where it was often spelled as "Lange." Johann Lang, a German theologian born in 1486 and died in 1568, was a notable figure from this period.

As the Lang surname spread across Europe, it became associated with various occupations and professions. In France, the Lang family was known for their expertise in winemaking, and in Italy, the Langhi family played a significant role in the textile industry during the Renaissance period.

Other notable individuals bearing the Lang surname throughout history include:

1. Andrew Lang (1844-1912), a Scottish scholar, literary critic, and poet.
2. Cosmo Lang (1864-1945), an English prelate who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1928 to 1942.
3. Fritz Lang (1890-1976), an Austrian-American filmmaker, screenwriter, and actor, best known for his influential works in German Expressionist cinema.
4. Jack Lang (born 1939), an Australian politician and former Premier of New South Wales.
5. Katharine Lang (1865-1944), an American philanthropist and social worker.

The Lang surname has a rich history spanning centuries and continents, reflecting the diverse cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped its evolution over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lang

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Lang.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Lang was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Lang has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Lang was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Lang, please contact us.

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