Longs

The surname Longs is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "lang," meaning tall or long, and was likely used initially as a nickname for someone of exceptional height or stature.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Longs appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195, where a Richard Longe is mentioned. The name also appears in various other medieval records, such as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a William Longe is listed as a resident of Oxfordshire.

The name Longs is sometimes associated with the village of Long in Shropshire, which was originally known as "Lang" in Old English. This suggests that some bearers of the surname may have taken their name from this location, or it could have been a descriptive name for someone who lived near or came from this area.

One notable early bearer of the surname was Sir Robert Longs, a member of the English Parliament who lived in the late 13th century. Another was John Longs, a wealthy merchant and landowner who resided in Somerset during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Longs appeared in various spellings, such as Longe, Longes, and Longis. During this time, a prominent figure with the name was William Longs, a clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Chartham in Kent from 1561 until his death in 1599.

Other notable individuals with the surname Longs include Sir John Longs (1570-1637), an English politician and landowner from Wiltshire, and George Longs (1780-1868), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament.

In the 19th century, the spelling Longs became more standardized, and several individuals with this surname made significant contributions in various fields. These include Joseph Longs (1825-1900), a prominent English architect known for his work on churches and public buildings, and Alfred Longs (1858-1925), a British botanist and author who specialized in the study of grasses.