Langabeer

This is a very traditional west country, and specifically Devonian, surname which is certainly topographical (the dweller at the Long Barrow) from the pre 7th Century Olde English 'Langa - bearu'. It is arguable that 'Bearu' can mean 'Grove or Wood' but the existence of so many burial barrows in the west country cannot be coincidence when associated with the name. The name development includes Joan Laugber of Plymouth (1590), Edmund Langabeer (1665) Newton, St. Cyres, whilst in 1667, Susannah Langebeer, the daughter of Richard and Susan was christened at St. Sidwells Church, Exeter on 17th November 1799. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Agnes Langbeare, which was dated 1563 christened at St. Giles in the Wood, Devon, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Good Queen Bess, 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.