Strang
A northern English and Scottish surname meaning “strong” or “sturdy,” or in some cases simply a variant spelling of Strong.
The #7,652 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 71,123 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is usually traced to a northern form of the adjective strong, ultimately from Old English and related Germanic roots meaning “powerful,” “firm,” or “resolute.” In historical sources it appears as a dialectal or archaic spelling used in northern England and Scotland. Some older writers also treated it as a nickname for a strong or vigorous person.
History
Medieval records show the name in northern England and especially Scotland, where it was more common. Later surname dictionaries often grouped it with Strong, treating Strang as a regional form rather than a wholly separate name. Because spelling was fluid in the Middle Ages, some families may have shifted between Strang and Strong over time.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Bardsley specifically notes that Strang was “generally” the Scottish form, while Lower describes it as an archaic and northern form of Strong.
From the historical record
“'wase', 'waze', a pad or bundle of straw. STRANG MAN = Strang (q.v.) -f- E.man. STRANGWAYS, v. under Strang(e)way8. STRATFORD (Eng.) Bel. to Stratford = the Street-Ford, i.e. the Ford on the Roman Road tO.E. strckt (Lat. strata via), (Roman) road, street +fora]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)