This name is of English locational origin from any of the various places so called, for example Langston in Devonshire and Hampshire. Recorded as Langeston in late 13th Century documents relating to the above counties, the first element is the old English pre 7th Century "lang" meaning "long" or "tall", plus "stan", a stone. The reference here is to one of the many single standing stones, often carved, which date from the middle Bronze Age in the British Isles. The surname was first recorded in the mid 16th Century, (see below). It is particularly prevalent in church registers of Totnes, Devonshire, from the late 16th Century. London church recordings include one John Langston who married Jonne Hadcop at St. Mary le Bow on October 4th 1555. George, son of James Langstone, was christened at St. Botolph without Aldgate in October 1626, and Ursula Langstone married John Humphrey on November 22nd 1674 at St. Marylebone, St. Mary Street, Marylebone Rd., London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Langston who married Elizabeth Baughe, which was dated December 4th 1564 - "London marriage Licence Records", during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "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.