The name Playfard has a history dating as far back as the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a person known as a "companion" derived from a combination of the Middle English words "pley" meaning "sport" and "fere." A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. In Scotland, the name Playfard is often a variant of Playford.
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Early Origins of the Playfard family
The surname Playfard was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
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Early History of the Playfard family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Playfard research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1561, 1608 and 1609 are included under the topic Early Playfard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Playfard 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 Playfard have been found, including Playfair, Pleyfair, Playford and others.
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Early Notables of the Playfard family
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Playfard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Playfard 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 Playfard, or a variant listed above: James Playfair, who settled in Virginia in 1722; Andrew Playfair, who came to Canada in 1817 Charles Playfair William Playfair and Mary Playfair, who all arrived at the port of New York in 1820.
England
Scotland
