Retfeard History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe roots of the name Retfeard are found among the Strathclyde-Briton people of the ancient Scottish/English Borderlands. Retfeard was originally found in Midlothian. However, the Retfeard 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." Early Origins of the Retfeard familyThe surname Retfeard 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. Early History of the Retfeard familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Retfeard research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1404, 1535, 1547, 1611, 1612 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Retfeard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Retfeard Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Retfeard has been spelled Redford, Redfurd, Rudford, Reidford and others. Early Notables of the Retfeard familyNotable 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... Migration of the Retfeard familyUnwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them: John Redford settled in Bermuda in 1635; James, John and Thomas Redford all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870.
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