English place-name surname from Old English 'lang' (long) and 'ham' (homestead), meaning 'long settlement.'
Lanham is an English place-name surname derived from Old English lang, meaning "long," and ham, meaning "homestead" or settlement. That gives it the practical, rooted quality typical of English topographic names.
As a given name, Lanham feels sturdy, understated, and slightly formal. It has the advantage of sounding familiar in structure while remaining uncommon as a first name. The result is a name with quiet confidence and a grounded, place-based identity.