Wellford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Wellford surname and its variations are habitation names that have been taken on from Welford in Berkshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, and Northamptonshire. These place names are generally derived from the Old English "welig," meaning "willow," or "well," denoting "a spring," combined with "ford." 1 2

Most of the parishes date back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when they were known as Waliford (Berkshire), Wellesford (Northamptonshire) and Welleford Warwickshire. 3

Interestingly of the three parishes, the Berkshire parish is the oldest dating back to Saxon times in 949 when it was known as Weligforda. 4

Early Origins of the Wellford family

The surname Wellford was first found in Somerset where Roger de Wellesford was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. 5 Richard de Welleford was registered in London temp. Edward II, according to the Placita de Quo Warranto. 1

Early History of the Wellford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wellford research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1461, 1606 and 1650 are included under the topic Early Wellford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wellford Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Welford, Wellford, Welsford, Wellsford and others.

Early Notables of the Wellford family

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

Wellford migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wellford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Wellford, whose oath of Allegiance was recorded in Philadelphia in 1815

Contemporary Notables of the name Wellford (post 1700) +

Charles Franklin Wellford, American criminologist, emeritus professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland–College Park
Beverly Randolph Wellford (1797-1870), American physician, born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, President of the Virginia Medical Association in 1851, 6th President of the American Medical Association (1852-1853)
Alexander Wellford (1911-1993), American tennis player who played in the 1953 Wimbledon singles championships
Harry Walker Wellford (1924-2021), American jurist from Memphis, Tennessee, Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (1991-2021)
Charles E Wellford, American Professor and Chairman of the Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland, lifetime national associate of the National Academy of Sciences
Buck Wellford, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 2008 6
Charles Wellford Leavitt (1871-1928), American landscape architect, urban planner, and civil engineer
Charles Wellford Leavitt (1871-1928), American landscape architect, urban planner, and civil engineer

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html