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![Show Contents]() Higford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The name Higford is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the old village of Hickford, Shropshire. Early Origins of the Higford familyThe surname Higford was first found in Shropshire, but we must look to Oxfordshire to find one of the first listings of the name, that being Edith de Hicford who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 1 "Sir Robert Atkyns, in his Ancient and Present State of Gloucestershire, says (p. 109) that 'The Higfords were of an ancient family in Salop, originally styled Hugford.' About the reign of James I the surname was turned into Higford: this, of course, has now become Hickford." 1 Early History of the Higford familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Higford research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1273, 1581, 1596, 1597, 1607 and 1657 are included under the topic Early Higford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Higford 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 Higford 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 Higford include: Hickford, Hikford, Hicford, Higford, Higeford, Hugford and many more. Early Notables of the Higford familyDistinguished members of the family include - William Higford (1581-1657), born near Alderton, Gloucestershire, a writer and Justice of the Peace...
- Higford, who is stated to have been 'a zealous Puritan,' who died at his residence at Dixton on 6 April 1657, at the age of 772...
Migration of the Higford familyMany 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 Higford or a variant listed above: John Hickford, who sailed to Maine in 1640 and Thomas Hickford to Maryland in 1669.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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