Surname Long - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
An Introspective Journey: My iGENEA DNA Test and the Exploration of 'Long' Surname
My choice to embark on the iGENEA DNA test was inspired by curiosity about my surname 'Long.' The surname that proudly adorned my name tag, certificates, and documents always invoked a sense of mystery and intrigue. What does it represent, and where does it come from? With every swish of the cotton swab on the inside of my cheek, I sent off a piece of me, eager for the unraveling of the intertwined code of my heritage.
Q. Long
read moreLong: What does the surname Long mean?
The surname Long has multiple origins and meanings. In English and French tradition, it is often derived from the Old English word "lang" or Old French "long," which means "tall." Therefore, it was often given as a nickname to a tall person.
In Chinese culture, "Long" is an important surname, where it translates to "Dragon," a symbol of power, strength, and good luck.
In Irish heritage, Long is an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname "Ó Longáin," which means "descendant of Longán." Longán is a personal name derived from a diminutive of "long," meaning "ship," hence, implying to a person associated with ships and seafaring.
Therefore, the meaning of the surname Long varies widely depending on cultural context, ranging from implications about physical characteristics, symbolic representation, to occupation.
Order DNA origin analysisLong: Where does the name Long come from?
The surname Long originates from the British Isles, dominating in England and Ireland. It is an English word in origin, historically given as a nickname to a person who was tall or had a longer body. In Ireland, Long is an anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Longáin, which means "descendant of Longán", a personal name that comes from a diminutive of "long" meaning tall.
In global distribution today, Long is still quite common in England and Ireland, but also in the United States, Canada, and Australia due to patterns of migration and colonization over the centuries. According to recent data from Forebears, the United States has the highest number of people with the Long surname. In England, the counties of Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire show a higher prevalence. In Ireland, Galway and Roscommon feature more prominently with the Long surname. Aside from English-speaking countries, the surname has also dispersed across Asia—mainly in China and Vietnam—owing to the surname's meaning in their respective languages. Consequently, though primarily Anglo-Saxon in origin, Long is now a multinational surname.
Variations of the surname Long
The surname Long has various spellings and variants that have evolved over time across different cultures and regions.
Some of the most common variants of the surname Long include Lang, Lange, Laing, Longe, and Langer. The name can sometimes also appear in the form of "Lung", especially in Chinese communities.
Some surnames of the same origin, primarily Anglo-Saxon or Chinese, include Longman, Longford, Longley, Longworth, and Longbottom. These names derive from the Old English 'Lang' typically denoting a person of tall stature.
The surname Long can potentially take on different forms in other languages, such as "Longo" in Italian, "Longus" in Latin, "Longue" in French, "Largo" in Spanish, and "Lang" in German and Dutch.
In Ireland, the surname is also often an anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Longáin, meaning 'descendant of Longán', a personal name derived from 'long' meaning 'ship'. However, note that such transliterations should be addressed with caution, as different cultures will have varying connotations and meanings for similar-sounding names.
Famous people with the name Long
- Larry F. Long: American actor
- Amber Long: American DJ
- Jimmy Long: American football coach
- Chris Long: American football player
- Jennifer Long: American actor
- Jordan Long: American actor
- Max Long: British actor
- Harold Long: Canadian footballer
- Robbins Long: American army general
- Joe Long: American basketball coach
- Hollin Long: American musician
- Charles Long: English painter and printmaker
- Stephen Long: navigator and explorer
- Andrew Long: American cartoonist
- Andrea Long: American writer
- Elizabeth C. Long: American politician
- Ray Long: American football player
- Neal Long: English actor
- Ollie Long: American artist
- Dale Long: American baseball player