The various spellings make surname research very difficult. My understanding so far, and I'm new to this, is that Thomas Lanphier/Lamphier, a huguenot form Languedoc-Rousillon, France went to London to escape religious persecution. He took his son Richard went with him. This was sometime in late 1500s. Either some other sons or brothers of Richard went to Ireland. Richard filed a will with the Perogative Court of Canterbury on 21 Aug 1655. In it he mentions a son George who (then) lived in New England (actually Westerly, RI). I am from that line : George Landpheare b.1631 Berkshire, Eng., d. 6 Oct 1731 in Westerly, RI.

Lots of help from Jack Lamphier (jlampast@aol.com) and Tim Lanfear (t-lanfear@hpcc.hitachi-eu.co.uk)

Good luck,
Paul Lanphear