London History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the name London date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the London family lived in the region of London. London is a habitationname from the broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other localnames are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the London family

The surname London was first found in Berkshire, but there are two distinct thoughts as to the origin of the name. 

The first is that it was derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Lunden or the Middle Welsh names Llundein or Lundein, as mentioned above. [1] In this case, it may have been a tribal or personal name. [2]

The second thought is that the family were in fact, Norman. In this scenario, the first record of the family was “William de Londres, one of the conquerors of Glamorgan, 1090, ancestor of the Lords Loundres of Naas.” [3]

Continuing this thread, we found very early entries for the family in Bodmin, Cornwall. “The convent to which this refectory belonged, is said to have been founded originally by John de London, under the immediate patronage of Edmund Earl of Cornwall. The time of its foundation is dated by William of Worcester in the year 1229; but he calls its original founder, John, son of Ralph, lord of Kayryshays.” [4]

This latter entry bodes well for the aforementioned Welsh entry. So as to complicate matters, Thomas de London settled in Scotland before 1163 and William and Robert London were listed in Normandy 1180-95, according to the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae. [3]

Early History of the London family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our London research.

London Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like London are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name London include: London, Londen, Lunnen, Lundin, Lunden, Londoner, Londner and many more.

London Ranking

In the United States, the name London is the 1,821^st most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. [5]

 London migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief – conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute – these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name London or a variant listed above: 

London Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• John London, who sailed to Virginia in 1636
• Humphrey London, who sailed to Virginia in 1639
• Humphry London, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 [6]
• Richard London, who settled in New England in 1654
• Hum London, who landed in Virginia in 1658 [6

London Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Peter London, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 [6]
• Martha London, who settled in Maryland in 1739

London Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• A London, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 [6]
• John London, who landed in Arkansas in 1882 [6]

 London migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

London Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Mr. Bartholomew London U.E. (b. 1730) born in New Jersey, USA from Greenwich Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1789 married twice having 9 children, he died in 1801 when he was murdered by his second wife Mary (née Osborn) [7]