LATHAN
English surname the Lathan is derived from the medieval given name Lefwine, which signifies a dear friend or beloved friend. Its patronymic character indicates that the name originally identified the descendants of a person named Lefwine. Over the centuries the spelling evolved into various forms, with Lathan becoming a standard orthography.
The surname also shows locational origins. It is connected either with the village of Lathom in Lancashire or with two settlements named Layton in North Yorkshire and Lancashire. The Domesday Book of 1086 records Lathom as Latune, derived from the pre‑7th‑century Norse‑Viking word hlaetha, meaning a barn. Layton in Yorkshire appears in the same survey as Latton, originating in Old English from leac‑tuna, a leek farm, while Layton in Lancashire is listed as Latun, indicating a farm by a water course.
Several spelling variants have been recorded, including Lathan, Layton, Latane, Latan, Laten, Latin, Lattin and Letten. These variations reflect the fluid nature of medieval orthography and the influence of regional dialects. Ecclesiastical records provide further evidence of the surname’s use. For example, Dorothea Latan married Arthur Lowe at St. Dunstans in Stepney, east London, on 20 October 1622. Elizabeth Lattin wedded Thomas Browne at St. Bartholomew the Less in the city of London on 17 February 1668. Christopher Letten was recorded as marrying Sarah Carrell at St. Dunstans, Stepney on 9 December 1697.
An early entry for the surname occurs with Henry Lathan, dated 3 October 1574 at Ormskirk in Lancashire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the historically noted monarch who reigned from 1558 to 1603.
In contemporary times, the Lathan surname can be found throughout the United Kingdom and in other English‑speaking countries. This widespread distribution reflects the historical patterns of migration and the diaspora of English families during the modern era.
Typical given names associated with the Lathan surname
Male
- Alan
- Brian
- Christopher
- Daniel
- David
- Gary
- John
- Mark
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Alison
- Angela
- Anne
- Emma
- Gemma
- Joanne
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Melanie
- Rebecca
- Rozanne
- Samantha
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Laitham
- Latan
- Lath
- Latha
- Lathaen
- Latham
- Lathams
- Lathane
- Lathangie
- Lathangue
- Lathanie
- Lathar
- Lathem
- Lathen
- Lathian
- Lathlane
- Lathlean
- Lathon
- Lathum
- Lattan
- Laytham
- Laythan
- Laythen
- Leatham
- Leathan
- Leatheam
- Leathen
- Leithen
- Leithin
- Letham
- Lethan
- Lethen
- Letheney
- Leython
- Loathin
- Loethen
- Lothain
- Lothan
- Lothian
- Louthan
- Louthean
- Louthian
- Lowthain
- Lowthan
- Lowthen
- Lowthian
- Lowthin
- Lowthion
- Luthin
- Lythen
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Lathan in...
Braille
⠇⠁⠞⠓⠁⠝
Morse
.-...--.....--.
Semaphore
There are approximately 391 people named Lathan in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around six in a million people in Britain are named Lathan.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Lathan
- Sanaa Lathan - American actress and voice actress
- George Lathan - Politician (1875 to 1942)
- John Lathan - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.