Highfield History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Highfield family

The surname Highfield was first found in West Sussex at Ifield, a parish, in the union of Horsham, hundred of Burbeach which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Ifelt. 1 The place name literally means "open land where yew-trees grom," from the Old English words "ig" + "feld." 2 The village, which is comprehended in the hamlet of Shinglewell, is situated on the line of a Roman road, traces of which are yet visible. 3 Ifield or Singlewell is also the name given to the area south of Gravesend in Kent. Originally a parish, in the union of North Aylesford, hundred of Toltingtrough, lathe of Aylesford, little is left today except a few houses south of the main road, and the tiny church of St Margaret. The family name was first referenced in the year 1198 when Scorland de Yfeld held estates in Kent.

Early History of the Highfield family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Highfield research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Highfield History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Highfield Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Highfield have been found, including Ifield, Eyefield, Highfield, Ifold, Ifould, Hyfield, Hifield, Hyfold, Yfield, Yfeld and many more.

Early Notables of the Highfield family

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

Migration of the Highfield family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Highfield, or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Contemporary Notables of the name Highfield (post 1700) +

Roger Highfield, English author and science editor of The Daily Telegraph in London
Ashley Highfield (b. 1965), English Director of New Media & Technology for the BBC and in 2003 was awarded the Digital Innovator Internet award by The Sunday Times

Historic Events for the Highfield family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. William Duncan Cameron Highfield (d. 1914), British Printer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 4

HMS Royal Oak

Joseph Edward Highfield (d. 1939), British Engine Room Artificer 4th Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 5

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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.
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html