Retfarte was first used as a surname in the Scottish/English Borderlands by the Strathclyde-Briton. The first Retfarte family lived in Midlothian. However, the Retfarte family name comes from any of several place names in England called Redford, from Old English re-ad meaning "red" and ford, meaning "a place where a river can be crossed."
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Early Origins of the Retfarte family
The surname Retfarte was first found in Midlothian, 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 Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
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Early History of the Retfarte family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Retfarte research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1404, 1535, 1547, 1611, 1612 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Retfarte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Retfarte Spelling Variations
Medieval Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. This is due to the fact that scribes in that era spelled according to the sound of words, rather than any set of rules. Retfarte has been spelled Redford, Redfurd, Rudford, Reidford and others.
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Early Notables of the Retfarte family
Notable amongst the family at this time was Sir Henry Redford (died 1404), English politician, Speaker of the House of Commons, who came of a family long settled in Lindsey, Lincolnshire; and John Redford (died 1547), a... Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Retfarte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Retfarte family
Many Scots were left with few options other than to leave their homeland for the colonies across the Atlantic. Some of these families fought to defend their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. Others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these families have recently been able to rediscover their roots through Clan societies and other Scottish organizations. Among them: John Redford settled in Bermuda in 1635; James, John and Thomas Redford all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870.
Scotland
England
