Armstrong Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Armstrong last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Armstrong last name
Meaning of the Armstrong last name: strong in the arm. Armstrong is a Border nickname for a man with a strong arm, from Middle English arm and strong. The Armstrongs were one of the great riding families of Liddesdale and the Debatable Land between Scotland and England, and their raids feature in the old Border ballads. After the pacification of the Borders under James VI many moved to Fermanagh and Ulster, and from there to North America. The Armstrongs were based at Mangerton in Liddesdale, and their most famous leader, Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie, was hanged by James V in 1530, an event remembered in the ballad Johnie Armstrang. The name is still very common in Cumbria and the Scottish Borders. In Ulster the Armstrongs settled particularly in Fermanagh, where they became one of the most numerous surnames. Armstrong families went on to Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, was of Scottish Border descent.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Armstrong name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Armstrong name in Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Northern Ireland, the United States and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Armstrong name FAQ
What does the Armstrong name mean?
Strong in the arm. Common variants include Armstrang, Armestrong.
Where does the Armstrong surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in Northern Ireland, the United States and Canada.
Is there a Armstrong coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Armstrong crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Armstrong coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.