Langlais - Name

Recorded in several spelling forms including L'Anglois, Langlois and possibly Langlyes as shown below, this very interesting surname can be described as "of French origins", although it means " The Englishman". In the medieval period around the 14th or 15th centuries, the name almost certainly described an Englishman living in France. Although history records that the French, or more properly "The Normans" who were of Viking origin, conquered England in 1066, it is usually forgotten that for four centuries thereafter England by various means controlled or conquered as much as half of France. As with Ireland many English were encouraged to settle there and they formed "colonies". Later many of these people embraced the protestant religion, when they became known as Huguenots, and in the due course of time were forced to leave France by the pro-Catholic kings. A large number settled back in England, which their ancestors had left centuries before. These Huguenots created their own churches mainly in London, and the first examples of this surname are taken from the surviving registers. These examples include Nicholas Langlois, christened at the French church, Threadneedle Street, London, on January 20th 1633, and Michell L'Anglois, a witness at the same church on February 22nd 1685. The first known recording in England, may be that of Thomas Langlyes, at St Benet's church, Paul's Wharf, London, on January 22nd 1594. This was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, known as Good Queen Bess, 1558 - 1603.