Rodford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Rodford surname lived beside a marsh or reedy ford. Rodford is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Rodford family

The surname Rodford was first found in Devon 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.

Early History of the Rodford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rodford research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1561 and 1630 are included under the topic Early Rodford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rodford Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Rodford are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Rodford include: Radford, Ratford and others.

Early Notables of the Rodford family

More information is included under the topic Early Rodford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rodford family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Rodford or a variant listed above: Cornelius Radford who was banished to Barbados in 1685; Heny Radford settled in St. Christopher in 1635; George, William, and Richard Radford settled in Virginia in 1637.

Contemporary Notables of the name Rodford (post 1700) +

Walter James "Jim" Rodford (1941-2018), English musician, who played bass guitar for The Kinks, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Argent, the Zombies and The Kast Off Kinks