Kingsford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The proud Kingsford family originated in Cornwall, a rugged coastal region in southwestern England. In early times, people were known by only a single name. However, as the population grew and people traveled further afield, it became increasingly necessary to assume an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames are derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. The Kingsford family originally lived in Devon, at the village of Kingsford.

Early Origins of the Kingsford family

The surname Kingsford was first found in Devon, where they were settled from ancient times.

Early History of the Kingsford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kingsford research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1273, 1372, 1746, 1751, 1846 and 1888 are included under the topic Early Kingsford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kingsford Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Kingsford, Kingford, Kingforde, Kingsforde and others.

Early Notables of the Kingsford family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Anna Kingsford (1846-1888), doctor of medicine and religious writer...

Kingsford migration to the United States +

In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Kingsford were found:

Kingsford Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nicholas Kingsford, who sailed to Virginia in 1641

Kingsford Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Philip Kingsford to Maryland in 1775

Kingsford 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:

Kingsford Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Charlotte A. Kingsford, (b. 1869), aged 9 months, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1870 1
Mrs. Laura J. Kingsford, (b. 1837), aged 33, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1870 1
Mr. Shrewsbury Kingsford, (b. 1838), aged 32, British sadler and carpenter travelling from London aboard the ship "Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1870 1
Mr. Shrewsbury F. Kingsford, (b. 1861), aged 9, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1870 1
Miss Laura (Laina) J. Kingsford, (b. 1863), aged 7, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1870 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Kingsford (post 1700) +

Robert Kingsford (1849-1895), English footballer
Herbert Kingsford (1862-1911), English poet
Charles Lethbridge Kingsford (1862-1926), English historian and topographer
Anna Kingsford (1846-1888), one of the first English women, to obtain a degree in medicine
Guy Kingsford (1911-1986), British actor of the '40s and '50s
William Kingsford (1819-1898), English-born Canadian historian
Walter Kingsford (1882-1958), British actor
Philip Kingsford (b. 1891), British Olympic athlete

Citations +

New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html