Petiford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancient history of the name Petiford began soon after 1066 when the Norman Conquest of England occurred. It was a name given to a person who never tired of walking or a soldier who had lost his foot in battle. The name Petiford is an Anglicized form of the Old French word pedefer, or pied de fer, which means iron foot. 1 2

Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the "Old French, petite and fere, 'the little wild beast.'" 3

Early Origins of the Petiford family

The surname Petiford was first found in the 11th century when the Latin name Herbertus Pedesferri was recorded according to the source Old English Bynames. The Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire recorded John Pedefer as holding lands there in 1190. A few years later, John Piedefer was listed in the same rolls for the same county in 1198, but no mention if this was the same person. William Pedifer was found in the Assize Rolls for Warwickshire in 1221 and William Petifer was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. Richard Pitifer and William Pidefyr were both listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1332 and later in Huntingdonshire, we found William Putifer in 1382. Again in Huntingdonshire, William Petefer was listed in 1392. The name was common and sometimes used as a nickname alone: Piedefer 1186, Pipe Rolls for Worcestershire, Pie de Fer 1185, Pipe Rolls for Norfolk. 1

Patrick Pedefere during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377) was a Freeman of York. Robertus Pedefer was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. William Petifer (Petefer, Petipher or Petyfre) of 1548 was registered at the University of Oxford. Robert Pettifer was listed as the Sheriff of Gloucester in the year 1603. 4

"Pettipher is an ancient Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire name, and further allusion to it will be found under those counties in reference to Puddephatt, which is probably a corruption of it. There was a Bampton family of Pettifer last century. The name of Pettipher occurred amongst the labouring classes of Culworth, Northamptonshire, a century ago (B.). The Rev. John Pettyfer, or Pettifer, was vicar of Blakesley, Northamptonshire, early last century. Cussans, in his "Hertfordshire" suggests that in that county the name of Pedefer (Pied - de - Eer?), which occurred in Ippolitts, Herts, in the reign of Edward III., was the original of Puddephatt, a Bucks as well as a Herts name. This is probable, hut at any rate his suggestion is still more applicable to the origin of Pettipher. Pettypher: Peytever or Pettypher, the name of mayors of Wycombe in the 16th and. 17th centuries." 5

Early History of the Petiford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Petiford research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1633, 1651, 1665, 1668, 1696, 1703, 1717, 1718, 1760 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Petiford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Petiford Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Petiford family name include Pettifer, Pettipher, Petipher, Petifer, Petiver and many more.

Early Notables of the Petiford family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was James Petiver (c.1665-1718), an English botanist and entomologist, son of James and Mary Petiver, born at Hillmorton, near Rugby, Warwickshire. He later became a London apothecary and Fellow of the Royal Society. He corresponded with naturalists in all parts of the world, and...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Petiford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Petiford family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Petiford family to immigrate North America: Elizabeth Pettiford settled in Maryland in 1720.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.