The Anglo Saxon invasion of England 450-600 AD renamed the landscape and long ridges were called Langedon. Settlements under these ridges became Langeton. In the following centuries there was name drift to different forms so that by the time of Domesday Book 1086 these settlements had a variety of names. Around 1200 many of these names became surnames but namedrift continued both for the villages and for the surnames. Names drift to more familiar forms, as an example the English county name Lancashire, out of context on Long Island drifted to Longshore. Similarly names beginning Lan drifted to more recognisable forms Lamb, Lamp, Long, Log etc. As a result some people have a name that sounds like a placename although no such name ever existed. Similarly some people may have a name such as Langston but it doesn't derive from any Langstone village but either a Langton village or directly from a lange-don. In some cases the name might shorten to Lamb, Lane, Lamb, Land or Long. So if you have a name with the elements L-N-N or L-M-N join in the fun and see if you match someone with a similar name.
      Archbishop Stephen Langton, the greatest Englishman ever, gave to us the rule of law through Magna Carta 1215. We celebrated the Octocentenary on 15th June 2015. Stephen also divided the Bible into chapters giving them numbers. There would be no Jn 3:16 without Stephen. For Stephen see article on Lost Langtons site: Where was Stephen Langton of Magna Carta Born?Treasurer of England Walter Langton set up the Model Parliament 1295, the first representative parliament, which gave us no taxation without representation. There are two more archbishops (both deposed), half a dozen bishops, knights, sheriffs and royal officials. Langton is then a very famous name but one that tends to disintegrate, perhaps because it has three consonants together -ngt-. The name quickly developed variants and if you have one of these variants you are both the surname you were born with and a member of the wider Langton family as well. You might for instance be a Langston and a Langton, in essence they are the same name. The varieties the name adopted moving anticlockwise around England are:
Lanton/Linton both sides of the Scottish border. Linton is in fact a separate name but Lintons from the Border area are probably genetic Langtons. It's just a matter of pronounciation
Langhorn(e) Langthorn(e) Longhorn(e) Langthorne(e) in the English Lake Distict in Far North West England but also in Yorkshire where the names look derived from Langton. In the Lake District things look less clear.
Longton North Lancashire - just a matter of pronounciation the name derives from a Langton village. Longton british births are on the Lost Langtons site
Lenton is the same name it's just a matter of pronounciation. Some derive from Lenton Lincolnshire formerly known as West Langton. Lenton british births are on the Lost Langtons site
Landon in the West and South Midlands -  Most derive from Langton but not everyone in London does so. Landon British births are on the Lost Langtons site
Langston, Langstone in the West and South Midlands - This is the same name and is the southern version of Langton where the name switches backwards and forwards. Langstons are just as likely to be descended from Langtons and vice versa.. Langston British births are on the lost langtons site

Langdon in South West England has the same derivation to Langton.

Laughton. Laughton tends to be found in Eastern England and is usually but not always a drift from Langton, exceptions are Yorkshire and Orkneys. Lawton a much bigger surname is possibly independent from Langton

In Ireland Langton drifts to the forms Lanton and possibly Glanton in Cork in the South. Lanton also surfaces in the USA in Illinois, Ohio, Alabama and Tennessee.

In the USA the Langton name rapidly disintegrated especially in the southern states. If your name is Langston, Langone, Langon, Langin, Landon, Lanton or Langdon you may ultimately derive from Langton and have DNA that will match Langton.

Langstaff(e)/Longstaff(e) probably derives from Lancaster as does Langster and the American form Longstreet
Langshear and the American Longshore derive from Lancashire


Because of work undertaken by the Lost Langtons site we know that Langtons have an extraordinary range of DNA. Not only are there the usual group r sequences but e, i1, i2, j2b, and j2a. Because of this variety we can now make a reasonable suggestion of where each sequence comes from. Whilst one can never be 100% certain we can have reasoable confidence in suggesting where people might come from and who they might be descended from. The list below contains famous people you might be descended from. You may also wish to hold in mind that medieval bishops did have children.

Sir Galfrid De Langton lost his property to wicked king John. Langtons, Langstons and Longtons descend from him. You will need Group J
Sir Thomas Langton and the Barons of Makerfield who charged down Richard III You will need group I
Sir Hugh of Yorkshire Group E
Bishop Walter Langton Treasurer of England, 53rd richest man ever aquitted of murder, adultery and devil worship. Now how many bishops can say that? Group R
Sir William of Wales who argued with King Edward I and lost, Sheriff Sir John Langton and the heroic Langton Mayors of York who saw of the murderous Scots Group R
Archbishop Stephen Langton of Magna Carta, Simon Archbishop of York, it's a group J
Sir John Langton and President William Langton of Magdalen College Oxford either I or R
Sir Ralph Langton of Staffordshire group R
John Langton of Bicester group I

We will only be able to suggest who you might be descended from if you take advantage of FTDNA testing. What are you waiting for? Would any of the men above have hesitated?