Show ContentsTelford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Telford family

The surname Telford was first found in Huntingdon, where they were descended from Taillefer of Normandy, jester to King William, Duke of Normandy, who asked the Duke for a favor at Hastings. Telfer put his horse to the gallop charging before all the rest to the amazement of the English soldiers. "A name of great antiquity. The exploits of the noble jouglere Taillefer at the battle of Hastings are well-known. William, Count of Angoulesme, in a battle against the Northmen engaged their king Storis, and with one stroke of his sword Durissima, forged by the great Wayland Smith, cut in two his body and cuirass. Hence he acquired the sobriquet of Taillefer, or 'cut iron.' " [1] He was granted lands in Huntingdon, but was invited by David, Earl of Huntingdon, later to be King of Scotland, to attend him in Scotland and was granted lands in Lanarkshire.

Early History of the Telford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Telford research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1500, 1643, 1683 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Telford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Telford Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Telfer, Talfer, Telford, Telpher, Talifero, Tailyefer, Telfair and many more.

Early Notables of the Telford family

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

Telford Ranking

In the United States, the name Telford is the 8,877th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [2]

Ireland Migration of the Telford family to Ireland

Some of the Telford family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Telford migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Telford Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary Telford, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1772
  • John Telford, who settled in Virginia in 1774
  • Francis Telford, who arrived in New York in 1796 [3]
Telford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George Telford, aged 42, who landed in New York in 1812 [3]
  • James Telford, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 [3]
  • John Telford, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1842 [3]
  • William Telford, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 [3]
  • Thomas Telford, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 [3]

Australia Telford migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Telford Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Telford, English convict from Northumberland, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on July 29th, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [4]
  • Mr. William Telford, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 25th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [5]
  • Miss Marion Telford, (Johnston, Mary Ann, Telford), (b. 1823), aged 28, Scottish house maid who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years for robbery, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 22nd April 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1876 [6]
  • Leonard Telford, aged 26, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Reliance" [7]
  • Jane Telford, aged 17, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Taymouth Castle" [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Telford migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Telford Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. J. Telford, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" arriving in Port Nicholson, (Wellington Harbour), New Zealand on 20th February 1840 [9]
  • John Telford, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant [10]
  • Mr. William Telford, (b. 1817), aged 24, British shoe maker travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 [9]
  • William Telford, aged 38, a bricklayer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Zealand" in 1842
  • Margaret Telford, aged 30, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Zealand" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Telford (post 1700) +

  • Wallace R. Telford, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oregon, 1944
  • S. W. Telford, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1856
  • John W. Telford, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Delaware County, 1913
  • Erastus D. Telford, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 23rd District, 1926
  • Barry B. Telford, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Texas State House of Representatives 1st District; Elected unopposed 1992, 1994; Elected 1996; Elected unopposed 1998, 2000; Elected 2002
  • Anthony Telford (b. 1966), American Major League Baseball player
  • Thomas Telford (1757-1834), Scottish stonemason, architect and civil engineer and a noted road, bridge and canal builder, born at Westerkirk, a secluded hamlet of Eskdale, in Eastern Dumfriesshire, eponym of Telford, Shropshire
  • Carly Mitchell Telford (b. 1987), English international football goalkeeper from County Durham
  • Bill "Snow" Telford, New Zealand rugby league player and coach
  • William Albert "Billy" Telford (b. 1956), English former professional footballer
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Charles Telford (b. 1920), Irish Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Ballee, County Down, Ireland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [11]


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 151 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1823
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RELIANCE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Reliance.htm
  8. South Australian Register Thursday 4th May 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Taymouth Castle 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/taymouthcastle1854.shtml
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html
  11. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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