UK surname
An ironic surname indicating one's ancestor was physically tall or lanky.
In the 1881 census there were 21 people recorded with the Longer surname, ranking it #30,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #30,609 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Raydon, Llancarvan, Llanvithin and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Longer is 144 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.8%.
1881 census count
21
Ranked #30,609
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1861
144 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Longer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Longer surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 12 | #31,134 |
| 1861 | historical | 144 | #15,817 |
| 1881 | historical | 21 | #30,609 |
| 1891 | historical | 45 | #30,747 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 58 | #27,001 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 18 | #36,809 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Raydon, Llancarvan, Llanvithin, London parishes, Denio and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raydon | Suffolk |
| 2 | Llancarvan, Llanvithin | Glamorganshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Denio | Carnarvonshire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Longer surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Longer, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Longer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Longer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Longer is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Longer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Longer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Longer is of German origin, with its roots stretching back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Saxony, where it was initially spelled as "Langer" or "Länger." The name is derived from the Old German word "lang," meaning "long" or "tall," suggesting that it was likely given as a descriptive nickname to an individual with a tall stature or a person who lived near a long road or path.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of Quedlinburg, a medieval chronicle that documented events in the Quedlinburg Abbey from the 9th to the 16th centuries. In this text, a certain "Conradus Langer" is mentioned as a witness to a land transaction in the year 1274.
During the 14th century, the name Longer can be found in various records from the region of Saxony, including tax rolls and municipal documents. For instance, a "Johannes Longer" is listed as a resident of the town of Meissen in a census record from 1367.
In the 15th century, the name began to spread beyond Saxony, with instances appearing in other parts of Germany and neighboring regions. One notable example is Hans Longer, a merchant and alderman from the city of Nuremberg, who lived from 1420 to 1489.
As the centuries passed, the surname Longer continued to be carried by individuals from diverse walks of life. In the 17th century, Johann Longer (1573-1643) was a renowned Lutheran theologian and professor at the University of Leipzig. Another notable figure was Friedrich Longer (1756-1831), a German botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life.
During the 19th century, the name Longer became associated with several prominent figures in the fields of literature and academia. Johann Baptist Longer (1801-1862) was a German Catholic theologian and professor at the University of Freiburg, while Karl Longer (1819-1890) was a renowned German novelist and playwright.
It is worth noting that variations of the spelling, such as "Langer" and "Längere," have also been documented in historical records, reflecting the linguistic diversity and regional variations within Germany.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Longer surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 7 Longers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.37x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 7 | 7.37x |
| Caernarfonshire | 5 | 63.45x |
| Suffolk | 4 | 16.86x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 6.84x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.59x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.51x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 3.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 7 Longers recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.63x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Battersea | 7 | 97.63x |
| Llannor | 5 | 8333.33x |
| Raydon | 4 | 10000.00x |
| Cramlington | 1 | 263.16x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 8.94x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 9.16x |
| Reading St Lawrence | 1 | 322.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Longer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 21 people were recorded with the Longer surname. That placed it at #30,609 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Longer a modern rank of #36,679.
An ironic surname indicating one's ancestor was physically tall or lanky.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Longer bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.