The surname Driffeild was first found in Gloucestershire, in the parish of Driffield or in either Great Driffield or Little Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Collectively all of the parishes date back to the Domesday Book of 1086 but with older spellings: Drifelle, Gloucestershire; and Drifield, Yorkshire. Each had essentially the same meaning: "open land characterized by dirt, or by stubble," from the Old English words "drit" or "drif" + "feld." 1
Conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Driffield which was held by Reinbald the Priest, a Norman under-tenant, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Being a priest didn't preclude offspring at that time.
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Early History of the Driffeild family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Driffeild research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1218 is included under the topic Early Driffeild History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Driffeild Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Driffield, Drifield, Dryfield, Dryffield and many more.
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Early Notables of the Driffeild family
More information is included under the topic Early Driffeild Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Driffeild family
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: John Driffill, who settled in South Carolina in 1797; Thos. J. Driffill, who settled in New Orleans in 1851; Louisa Driffill, who arrived in New Orleans in 1851.
England
