I started working on my family tree in 2000 as a Millennium project. The intervening years have seen my tree grow branches in all sorts of directions but the main focus, almost from the beginning, has been my Longhurst line. I am a descendent of Joseph Longhurst who died 1697 at Ewhurst, Surrey and his wife Margaret Steere.

I registered the study in 2019, surprised that the surname hadn’t already been claimed by another Longhurst researcher. Over the years, I have had correspondence with many, worldwide.

It is the intention of this study to compile family trees where possible.

Variant spellings are often interchangeable for the same person, the details entered in parish registers by parish clerks or priests before surnames became standardized being mis-heard or mis-spelt, the handwriting in ancient parish registers mis-read in modern transcriptions.

Longhurst, Longhust, Longust, Longhirst, Loughurst and others, none of which are registered as a study, but may be found in this.

The link below is one of many that suggests the surname is locational, although Longhursts recorded in Northumberland are few and far between.

 Longhurst Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms (houseofnames.com)

This Longhurst study supports the theory that the origins of the surname are locational to Surrey and the neighbouring counties of Sussex and Kent.

Often quoted as:

The surname Longhurst was first found in Surrey where Richard de Lanherst was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1221. Later, Robert de Longehurst was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1332.

According to https://forebears.io (based on data 2014)

The primary focus of this study are the Longhursts of Surrey, Sussex and Kent.

Longhurst’s throughout the rest of the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand etc are also included as this study is world-wide in accordance with the terms of a registered study being global in scope.

GRO England & Wales Index Births: 1837 to 2006 8700+ entries

GRO England & Wales Index Marriages: 1837 to 2005 6600+ entries

GRO England & Wales Index Deaths: 1837 to 2006 7800+ entries

England & Wales Census entries 1841 to 1921 20000+ entries

England & Wales 1939 Register 2700+ entries

Overseas data is available but far from complete, as it is often subject to country and state closure restrictions.