Pettiforthe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Pettiforthe is a name whose history dates possibly as far back as 1066 when the Normans first arrived in Britain following their Conquest of the island. It was a name for a person who never tired of walking or a soldier who had lost his foot in battle. The name Pettiforthe 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 Pettiforthe family

The surname Pettiforthe 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 Pettiforthe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pettiforthe 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 Pettiforthe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pettiforthe Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Pettiforthe include Pettifer, Pettipher, Petipher, Petifer, Petiver and many more.

Early Notables of the Pettiforthe 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 Pettiforthe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pettiforthe family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Pettiforthes to arrive on North American shores: 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.