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| Origins Available: |
| | England |
The ancestors of the name Biffeart date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence near a ford, a shallow place in a river or stream which could be crossed by wading. The surname Biffeart is derived from the Old English words bi, which means by, and ford, which means ford, collectively "ford near the river-bend."1. The surname Biffeart may also be derived from residence in the settlement of Byford in Hertfordshire. 2
The surname Biffeart was first found in Herefordshire at Byford, a parish, in the union of Weobley, hundred of Grimsworth. 3
The name is derived from Beeford or Beeforth (Buiforde in the Domesday Book) 4 in Holderness in the East Riding of Yorkshire, on the east coast of England. Baldwin de Biford, between 1182 and 1189, "gave as much land on each side of their grange on the moor as was equal to the previous grant of Acer de Biford to Beverley Abbey; Nicholas, his son, gave an oxgang and a toft in Beeford; and Stephen, son of Thomas de Biford, the same." 5
Following this early entry, we must look to Essex for the next registered entry for the family. For it is there that Geoffrey de Biford was listed in the Feet of Fines for 1222-1223. Later, again in Essex, John Byfordim was listed in the Feet of Fines for 1381. 2
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Biffeart research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Biffeart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Biffeart has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Biffeart have been found, including Biford, Biforde, Byford, Byforde, Bifford, Byfford, Biffard, Biffort, Byfford and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Biffeart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Biffearts to arrive on North American shores: William Byford who arrived in Philadelphia in 1880; Thomas, William, and Martha Byford, arrived in Barbados in 1664; and later transferred to the mainland in Virginia.