This interesting surname is of English topographical origin from the Old English pre-seventh Century words, "lang, long", meaning long (from the Latin "Longus") and "Maed", a meadow, thus the surname was probably attributed to someone who lived by a long patch of grassland which was used as a pasture. The surname dates from the mid 13th Century (see below). Hugh Langmeade was recorded in Kirby's Quest for Somerset in 1327. Church records of Devonshire include the christening of Richardus Langmaide at Ugborough on November 6th 1541. Willus, son of Henrici and Johae Langmaide was christened on June 19th 1540, and Elizabetha, daughter of Willi Langmaide was christened on October 18th 1565, both also taking place at Ugborough, Devonshire. The surname appears in London church records in 1680, when on September 2nd, Silvanus Langmaid married Elizabeth Edden at St. Katherine's Church. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Langmede, which was dated 1327, in Kirby's Quest for Somerset, during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. 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.