NameCensus.

UK surname

Langstaff

A locational surname referring to a long staff or pole used for measuring land.

In the 1881 census there were 378 people recorded with the Langstaff surname, ranking it #8,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 570, ranked #9,038, down from #8,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Richmond and Auckland St Andrew (North Bedburn), Witton-le-Wear. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockton-on-Tees, Leeds and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Langstaff is 674 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.8%.

1881 census count

378

Ranked #8,288

Modern count

570

2016, ranked #9,038

Peak year

1911

674 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Langstaff had 378 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 570 in 2016, ranked #9,038.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 674 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Langstaff surname distribution map

The map shows where the Langstaff surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Langstaff surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Langstaff over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 422 #5,779
1861 historical 422 #6,086
1881 historical 378 #8,288
1891 historical 475 #7,734
1901 historical 514 #7,888
1911 historical 674 #6,264
1997 modern 561 #8,538
1998 modern 591 #8,481
1999 modern 587 #8,569
2000 modern 597 #8,457
2001 modern 584 #8,445
2002 modern 597 #8,494
2003 modern 594 #8,391
2004 modern 599 #8,361
2005 modern 576 #8,512
2006 modern 555 #8,752
2007 modern 561 #8,766
2008 modern 571 #8,720
2009 modern 582 #8,784
2010 modern 596 #8,831
2011 modern 567 #9,055
2012 modern 529 #9,461
2013 modern 563 #9,151
2014 modern 566 #9,174
2015 modern 565 #9,108
2016 modern 570 #9,038

Geography

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Where Langstaffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Richmond, Auckland St Andrew (North Bedburn), Witton-le-Wear, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles and Rothwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockton-on-Tees, Leeds, Knowsley, Ryedale and Richmondshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Richmond Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Auckland St Andrew (North Bedburn), Witton-le-Wear Durham
4 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Rothwell Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockton-on-Tees 018 Stockton-on-Tees
2 Leeds 059 Leeds
3 Knowsley 003 Knowsley
4 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
5 Richmondshire 001 Richmondshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Langstaff

These lists show first names that appear often with the Langstaff surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Langstaff

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Langstaff, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Langstaff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Langstaff household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Langstaff is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Langstaff is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Langstaff falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Langstaff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Langstaff, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Langstaff

The surname Langstaff has its origins in England and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "lang" meaning long and "stæf" meaning staff or pole, suggesting the name was initially bestowed upon someone who lived near a landmark with a tall pole or marker.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Langstaff can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Willelmus de Langestaf is mentioned. This indicates the name was already in use during the medieval period.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with slight variations in spelling, such as Langestaf, Longstaff, and Langstafe. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

The surname Langstaff is also associated with several place names in England, including Langstaff Croft in North Yorkshire and Langstaff Grange in County Durham. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Langstaff surname who resided in those areas.

One notable figure bearing the Langstaff surname was Sir John Langstaff (1599-1675), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Ripon during the English Civil War.

Another prominent individual was Robert Langstaff (1677-1736), an English clergyman and author who published several religious works, including "A Treatise on the Sacraments" and "The Duty of Parish Priests."

In the 18th century, John Langstaff (1718-1791) was an English clockmaker and inventor from Yorkshire, known for his contributions to the development of chronometers and precision timekeeping devices.

Moving into the 19th century, James Langstaff (1825-1899) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Yorkshire, including the Church of St. Mary in Richmond.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the literary contributions of Kathleen Langstaff (1884-1967), an English children's author and poet who wrote numerous books and poems for young readers, such as "The Nursery Rhyme Book" and "The Fairy Doll."

These examples illustrate the longstanding presence of the Langstaff surname in England, stretching back centuries and encompassing individuals from various professions and walks of life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Langstaff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Langstaff surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 234 Langstaffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.47x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 234 6.47x
Durham 25 2.30x
Lincolnshire 24 4.11x
Lancashire 21 0.49x
Surrey 20 1.13x
Ayrshire 9 3.30x
Middlesex 8 0.22x
Derbyshire 7 1.23x
Kent 6 0.48x
Northumberland 4 0.74x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.81x
Hampshire 3 0.40x
Hertfordshire 2 0.80x
Warwickshire 2 0.22x
Angus 1 0.30x
Cheshire 1 0.12x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Monmouthshire 1 0.38x
Norfolk 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 40 Langstaffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.59x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 40 19.59x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 19 648.46x
Richmond 17 300.89x
Holbeck 12 50.10x
Boston 11 62.15x
Bermondsey 10 9.21x
Witton Le Wear 10 324.68x
York St Margaret 10 446.43x
Auckinleck 9 106.51x
East Witton Within 9 2812.50x
Fearby 9 3214.29x
Rotherhithe 9 19.96x
Wortley In Bramley 9 31.44x
Scarborough 8 24.35x
Bethnal Green London 7 4.42x
Catterick 7 864.20x
Marrick 7 1842.11x
Spennithorne 7 2800.00x
Stanghow 7 479.45x
Canterbury St Mildred 6 203.39x
Redcar 6 209.06x
Exelby Leeming Newton 5 581.40x
Great Hale 5 568.18x
Streatlam Stainton 5 1162.79x
West Derby 5 3.95x
Bolsover 4 139.86x
Brompton On Swale 4 888.89x
Coundon 4 90.91x
Crakehall 4 655.74x
Elswick 4 9.23x
Gorton 4 9.83x
Great Ouseburn 4 645.16x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 4 90.70x
Miningsby In Boston 4 1333.33x
Spotland 4 8.31x
Armley 3 18.82x
Askham 3 1111.11x
Blackburn 3 2.60x
Chesterfield 3 14.01x
Harmby 3 1304.35x
Hudswell 3 1304.35x
Mickleton 3 361.45x
Moss Side 3 13.17x
North Stoneham 3 176.47x
Romaldkirk 3 857.14x
Shildon 3 34.40x
York All Sts Peasholme 3 508.47x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 5.94x
Bedale 2 151.52x
Birmingham 2 0.65x
Brightside Bierlow 2 2.82x
Clifton In York 2 26.46x
Colsterworth 2 162.60x
Great Amwell 2 79.37x
Great Ayton 2 90.50x
Hunslet 2 3.55x
Langthorne 2 1250.00x
North Rauceby 2 588.24x
Pickhill With Roxby 2 571.43x
Sheffield 2 1.74x
York St Mary 2 13.36x
Ainderby Quernhow 1 714.29x
Barnard Castle 1 18.66x
Cheetham 1 3.10x
Dundee 1 0.79x
East Markham 1 106.38x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.36x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 4.30x
Kirby Hall 1 2500.00x
Laverton 1 263.16x
Leyburn 1 81.97x
Liverpool 1 0.38x
Lyme Handley 1 270.27x
Marston Sicca 1 217.39x
Moorsholme 1 204.08x
Stranton 1 2.74x
Thorpe Next Norwich 1 16.81x
Tottenham 1 1.72x
Wimbledon 1 5.01x
York St Giles In 1 29.33x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Langstaff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 37
Elizabeth 16
Jane 13
Margaret 12
Sarah 12
Ann 9
Annie 7
Eliza 7
Emma 7
Isabella 6
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Catherine 3
Eleanor 3
Ellen 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Anna 2
Clara 2
Gertrude 2
Louisa 2
Annice 1
Caroline 1
Christiana 1
E.A. 1
Eathel 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Florey 1
Georgeina 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Hilda 1
Jeanette 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Matilda 1
Nelly 1
Olive 1
Priscilla 1
Tomlinson 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Langstaff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 26
Thomas 24
George 22
Joseph 10
William 10
Henry 8
James 8
Robert 7
Arthur 6
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Frederick 4
Walter 4
Edward 3
Leonard 3
Bilton 2
Daniel 2
Frank 2
Matthew 2
Thos. 2
Abraham 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Hy. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Laurance 1
Nathan 1
Philip 1
Raw 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Tomy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Langstaff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Langstaff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 378 people were recorded with the Langstaff surname. That placed it at #8,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Langstaff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 570 in 2016. That gives Langstaff a modern rank of #9,038.

What does the Langstaff surname mean?

A locational surname referring to a long staff or pole used for measuring land.

What does the Langstaff map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Langstaff bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.