Stainforth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Stainforth

What does the name Stainforth mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Stainforth comes from when the family resided in the village of Stanford that was found in at least ten parishes in England.

Early Origins of the Stainforth family

The surname Stainforth was first found in Staffordshire but was found in various counties including: Stanford, Kent; Stanford Bishop, Herefordshire; Stanford Dingley, Berkshire; Stanford in the Vale; and Stanford le Hope in Essex. The name literally means "stone ford" or "stony ford" 1 and was listed in the Domesday Book in numerous places too. The Stainforth variant called Darnall in Yorkshire their ancient family seat. "The Hall [of Darnall], built by the Staniforths, was the residence of that family for several generations, and afterwards a seat of the late Duke of Norfolk's." 2

Early History of the Stainforth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stainforth research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1175 and 1461 are included under the topic Early Stainforth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stainforth Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Stainforth include Stamford, Stanford, Staniford, Staniforth, Stainforth, Stannford, Stanforth and many more.

Early Notables of the Stainforth family

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

Migration of the Stainforth family to Ireland

Some of the Stainforth 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.

Migration of the Stainforth family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: John Stamford who settled in Virginia in 1624; Francis Stanford, his wife Grace, and six children arrived in Philadelphia in 1683; Robert Stanford and his wife Mary and son Robert arrived in Barbados in 1678.

Sources +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.