Armstrong

Armstrong is a surname and given name of English origin used by many notable people and places. Notable individuals include Neil Armstrong (1930–2012), American astronaut and the first person to walk on the Moon; Louis Armstrong (1901–1971), American jazz trumpeter and vocalist; Edwin H. Armstrong (1890–1954), American engineer who pioneered frequency modulation radio; and Lance Armstrong (born 1971), American former professional road bicycle racer.

Geographically, Armstrong names several places in North America. There are Armstrong in Iowa; Armstrong in British Columbia; and Armstrong in Ontario. There are also Armstrong Counties in Pennsylvania and Texas. The name appears in other localities and administrative divisions as well.

In business and industry, Armstrong World Industries is a U.S.-based manufacturer of ceilings and architectural products, tracing its origins to the Armstrong Cork Company. Armstrong Siddeley was a British engineering group known for aircraft engines and motor vehicles before merging into Hawker Siddeley. Armstrong Whitworth was a major British manufacturing company involved in ships, armaments, and engineering; it became part of Vickers-Armstrongs in the early 20th century.

Other uses of the term include Armstrong numbers, a concept in mathematics describing a number equal to the sum of its digits each raised to the power of the number of digits (for example, 153). The Armstrong limit refers to the altitude at which water and other bodily fluids boil at the surrounding pressure, approximately 63,000 feet (19,000 meters).