Surname Changes

 As I continue to search on my mother’s side, her family surname has been spelled so many ways. Those spelling include: Langford, Langfurd, Lanford, Laukford, Landford, Lankferd, Sandford, Sankford, and Lankfard. There may have been others spellings.

Robert Louis Lankford (also known as Lewis Lankford) was my Great Grandpa. On his and Great Grandma Charlotta’s tombstone their surname was spelled LANKFARD.  When I came across their tombstone in the 1990’s, I thought that their surname was misspelled.

s I searched more on that Ashland Cemetery, I saw that there were others who with the LANKFARD spelling. My Grandparents Leo and Mary. Their tombstone was spelled LANKFARD. I can assume that that was the original name. Or that was a chosen surname that was taken after slavery.
Maybe the Lankford name may not have been the slave name. Story has it that the slave name might have been Morton. Great Grandpa Robert had a half sister, named Mamie Morton. 

Mamie was half black. She was said to have been the slave owner’s daughter. Robert and Mamie had the same mother. On Robert’s death record his parents were not known. Robert was born in KY.

I haven’t found any leads on Mamie Morton. Mamie could have married in KY where she  was living. Recently, I’ve come across someone searching the Morton who the Lankfords worked for…I thought that was nice.

It wasn’t until the 1910 that I came across Robert L. Lankford. In 1920 and 1920 his name was Robert Lankford. I wonder what happened. Was Robert going by his middle name at first? Or did he change his name?

It would be nice to have known more about my Great Grandpa Robert and his parents. I wonder if there were other siblings. I can only go back to Robert Louis LANKFORD. Perhaps that was the name that his choice.

So was his name spelled Robert Louis Lankford? Or Robert Lewis Lankfard? Either ways goes. As long as we know who was who or who’s who on the family tree that matter. 

While On The Journey,
Another Look At The Lankford Surname

The Mystery Continues:
Perhaps the family surname could have been another name. Each person with the LANKFORD surname spelled the family name the way that they choose. I noticed how the LANKFORD surname was spelled and signed through the World War I and II Draft Records, Marriage Licenses, Post Cards, Letters, City Directories, Census Records and Tombstones.

The above blog was a repost. I have an update:
I have come across other spellings. Lankgford, Longford,

In 2021 I had a breakthrough on Robert Louis Lankford’s family lineage. Robert was the son of Robert B. Lankford (1826 – 1863) and a lady by the name of Dora ? Lankford, a melungeon woman (1830 -1899). A researcher shared with me the link between Robert and his ancestor, Dora, who was Robert’s sister. I discovered an article stating that Robert was born in Washington County, Kentucky.

Robert Louis’ father was Robert B. Lankford who was white. The Lankford lineage surname can be traced back to the spelling of LONGFORD. There are many other varies of the LONGFORD lineage surname. Lanckford, my 11th Great Grandfather, then back to LONGFORD with my 15th Great Grandfather. to my 26th Great Grandfather Oliver DeLongford. to the my 28th Great Grandfather. The surname was changed.

I have been thinking about the Lankfard tombstone. It’s still a mystery. I wonder, Robert left Kentucky due to a family disagreement. He came to Missouri. I can trace him to an news article with the name Lewis Langford. Perhaps Robert didn’t want the Lankford spelling. Lankford was the enslaved surname. Or he didn’t want his family to find him.

The family did locate Robert. They keep in touch. Robert’s mother and some siblings were said to have lived in Missouri for a short time. I’m thankful for the discovery of family connections.

Perhaps LANKFARD was the freedom surname for the family.
There are relative who continue to spell their surnames LANKFORD and others with the LANKFARD.
I continue to honor both spellings.

Thanks for reading.
Surname Changes #52Ancestors ~ Week 41
God bless
S.A. Blakley

Week 41 ~ Generations Café via facebook

The theme for Week 41 is “Changes.” They say life is change. Think about the changes that your ancestors saw during their lifetime. (I think about my grandmother who went from using a horse and wagon to seeing Neil Armstrong step foot on the moon.)


Week 42 (Oct. 18-24): Sports
Week 43 (Oct. 25-31): Shock