Show ContentsGulliford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Gulliford family's name is derived from the ancient Norman culture that was established in Britain following the Norman Conquest of island in 1066. Their name originated with an early member who was a greedy person. It derives from the Old French word goulafre, which means glutton.

Early Origins of the Gulliford family

The surname Gulliford was first found in Suffolk, where they held lands after the Norman Conquest. Roger Gulafre, Lord of Mesnil Bernard, held property in St. Evroult, Normandy in 1061.

Early History of the Gulliford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gulliford research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1130 and 1273 are included under the topic Early Gulliford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gulliford Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Gulliford include Gulliver, Gullever, Gullifer, Gulliford, Galliford, Galliver, Gilliver and many more.

Early Notables of the Gulliford family

More information is included under the topic Early Gulliford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Gulliford migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Gullifords to arrive on North American shores:

Gulliford Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Elizabeth Gulliford, aged 57, who landed in America, in 1903
  • Olivia Gulliford, aged 38, who landed in America from Gunnislake, England, in 1910
  • Samuel Gulliford, aged 34, who immigrated to the United States from Gunnislake, Emngland, in 1910
  • Thomas Gulliford, aged 19, who landed in America from Shaftesbury, England, in 1910
  • Herbert Gulliford, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Burnham, England, in 1912
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Gulliford migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Gulliford Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Gulliford, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Persia" in 1860

Contemporary Notables of the name Gulliford (post 1700) +

  • Hermione Gulliford, English actress, best known for her work with the Royal Shakespeare Company

HMS Dorsetshire
  • Henry George Gulliford (d. 1945), British Chief Stoker aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 1


  1. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html


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