| ![Show Contents]() Kerfoot History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Kerfoot is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in a valley or at the foot of a hill. Kerfoot is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. Early Origins of the Kerfoot familyThe surname Kerfoot was first found in Yorkshire where Ricardus de Kerfforth was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. A very rare name, we must look to 1572 to find the next record, that of Margarette Kyrfote, of Bolhngton who appears in the Reg. Prestbury, Cheshire at that time. A few years later, John Kirfoote, or Kyerfoote, Cheshire appears in the Register of the University of Oxford in 1583. 1 Early History of the Kerfoot familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kerfoot research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1661, 1664, 1688 and 1741 are included under the topic Early Kerfoot History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kerfoot Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Kerfoot are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Kerfoot include: Kerfoot, Kerford, Kerfont, Kerfut, Kerriford and many more. Early Notables of the Kerfoot familyMore information is included under the topic Early Kerfoot Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kerfoot RankingIn the United States, the name Kerfoot is the 16,875th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2  Migration of the Kerfoot family to Ireland
Some of the Kerfoot family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Kerfoot migration to the United States | + |
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Kerfoot or a variant listed above:
Kerfoot Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- James Kerfoot, aged 31, who landed in America, in 1892
- John Kerfoot, aged 21, who settled in America from Manchester, England, in 1892
- Sam. Kerfoot, aged 24, who landed in America from London, England, in 1892
- Herbert Kerfoot, aged 21, who landed in America from Blackburn, in 1893
- Alice A. Kerfoot, aged 23, who settled in America from Liverpool, in 1893
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Kerfoot Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Wm. Kerfoot, aged 53, who settled in America from Ashton, in 1900
- John Wasburton Kerfoot, aged 39, who immigrated to America from Rhyl, England, in 1907
- William Kerfoot, aged 55, who landed in America from Hurst Nook, England, in 1908
- Edward Kerfoot, aged 34, who landed in America from Sydney, Australia, in 1908
- James Kerfoot, aged 39, who landed in America from Shanghai, China, in 1909
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Kerfoot migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Kerfoot Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. John Kerfoot, (b. 1804), aged 30, English weaver who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
| Contemporary Notables of the name Kerfoot (post 1700) | + |
- John Barrett Kerfoot (1816-1881), first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- W Charles Kerfoot, American biologist at Michigan Technological University
- William Kerfoot, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Minnesota, 1952 4
- Mrs. William Kerfoot, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Minnesota, 1948 4
- John D. Kerfoot, American politician, Mayor of Dallas, Texas, 1876-77 4
- George Kerfoot, American politician, Mayor of Elkton, Maryland, 1896-98 4
- Eric Kerfoot (1924-1980), English footballer
- John David Kerfoot (1835-1903), American attorney and businessman, Mayor of Dallas, Texas (1876 to 1877)
- Kerfoot W. Daly, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1916; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1924 5
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Kerfoot migration to the United States 
Kerfoot migration to Australia 
England
Ireland
