Barreforthay History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe ancestors of the name Barreforthay date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The surname is generally thought to have come from a place name, such as from Burford in Oxfordshire, or Burford in Shropshire. 1 These place names are derived from the Old English words "burh," meaning "stronghold," or a "fortified manor," and "ford," a location where a river can be crossed. Some variations of this surname, no doubt come from the Old French word "buffet," meaning "table" or "cupboard." 2 Early Origins of the Barreforthay familyThe surname Barreforthay was first found in Shropshire where two of the first listings of the family were listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Hugo de Bureford: and Roger de Bureford. 3 William le Burford and Walter le Boreforde were both listed in Kirby's Quest as holding lands in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) 4 Early History of the Barreforthay familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barreforthay research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1329 and 1620 are included under the topic Early Barreforthay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Barreforthay Spelling VariationsSound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Barreforthay family name include Burford, Bareford, Berford, Barford, Buford, Burfort and many more. Early Notables of the Barreforthay familyMore information is included under the topic Early Barreforthay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Barreforthay family to IrelandSome of the Barreforthay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Barreforthay familyFor political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Barreforthay surname or a spelling variation of the name include : William Burford, who came to Virginia in 1637; William Buffett, who was on record in Virginia in 1657; George Burford settled in Virginia in 1643; George Burford, who came to Montserrat in 1663.
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