The Lankfords seem to be able to trace their family line back to Halfdan Sveidasson in Norway. At the time, the son would take the first name of the father, add son to it, and this would become his last name. This changed around the 900’s, when Ralnulph left Norway to France.
In the 1050’s, when Robert De Toeni left France to England. De Toeni was changed to De Longford. Roger I De Toni is listed in the Millennium File being born in 990 in Conches, Normandy, France in 1038 or 1039. Dropping the ‘De’ of De Longford began around 1214 and the name changed to Lankford in the 1560’s, when the family sailed to American. Probably changed on arrival.
Because I can find no actual information confirming this line, I have not numbered the order that they are in. Instead, I have lettered them. Once documentation is available, I have changed it to numbering.
a.	Halfdan Sveidassan - Norway 
b.	Ivar halfdasson - Norway
c.	Eystein “Glumra” (Jarl of the Uplands) Ivarsson - 800 -830 - Norway
d.	Malahule Haldrick resney Eysteinson - Norway
e.	Ralnulph Count of Bayeus 895 - Norway to France
f.	Anschitel De Toesni Lord Isle De La - 926 France
g.	Ralph I Rodulf Sgieneur De Toeni - France
h.	Raphe II Rodulf De Toeni - France
i.	Roger De Toeni September 9, 990 Conches France - May 31, 1038 France
j.	Robert De Toeni 1040 France - 1088 England
k.	Nigel De Longford 1088 England - 1115 England
l.	Nicholas De Gresley De Longford 1105 England - 1166 England
m.	Niegle De Longford 1120 England - 1178 England
n.	Oliver De Longford 1152 England - 1242 England
o.	Henry De Longford 1188 England - 1248 England
p.	Nigel Longford 1214 England - 1274 England
q.	Oliver Longford 1235 England - March 16, 1284 England
r.	John Longford (Joan Byron) 1260 England - 1304 - England
s.	Nicholas Longford (Alice Butler) 1285 England - 1356 England
t.	Nicholas Longford (Alice D. Eyncourt) 1323 England - 1371 England
u.	Nicholas Longford (Margaret Abbleby) 1350 England - 1371 England
v.	Nicholas Longford (Joan Warren) 1378 England - 1416 England
w.	Ralph Longford (Margaret Melton) 1396 England - 1431 England
x.	Ralph Longford (Mabel Ferrers) 1438 England - 1513
y.	Nicholas Longford (Margaret Trafford) 1465 England - 1513 Picardie, France
z.	Ralph Longford (Dorothy Fitzherbert) 1480 England - September 23, 1544
z1.	Nicholas Longford (1530 England - 1610 England
z2.	Harry Lankford (Elizabeth Dawes) June 12, 1563 England - 1600 England
z3.	William Lankford (Patience Hughe) 1597 England - 1665 England
1. 	Edward Lankford, who married a Morris, was born in England in 1620 and died in Virginia in 1640, at only 20 years old. He had only one son, Thomas. Passenger & Immigration Lists Index show that Edward came over from England in 1638 to Virginia and that on arrival he received a land grant.
2.	Edward’s son, Thomas Lankford, was born in Virginia in 1640. He married Elizabeth Jordan and died in 1705.
3.	Thomas’ son, Nicholas S. Lankford was born in 1665 in Virginia and died in 1737.
4.	Nicholas’ son, James Lankford was born in Carolina, Virginia in 1713. He died in Surrey, North Carolina in 1778.
5.	James’ son, Henry Lankford was born in Virginia in 1734. He married Catherine Williams. He died in 1830 in Dickson, Tennessee.
6.	Henry’s son, Parrish Lankford, was born in Virginia in 1759. He married Sarah Lawrence. He died in 1829 in Dickson, Tennessee.
7.	Parrish’s son, John Lankford, was born in Granville, North Carolina in 1802. He died in Dickson, Tennessee in 1880. He is listed on the 1870 United States Federal Census along with his wife, Nancy living in White Bluff, Dickson County, Tennessee. He is buried on the old Lankford Farm, around Turnbull Creek in Dickson, Tennessee.