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| Origins Available: |
| | England |
The ancestors of the name Biford date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Biford family lived near a ford, a shallow place in a river or stream which could be crossed by wading. The surname Biford 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 Biford may also be derived from residence in the settlement of Byford in Hertfordshire. 2
The surname Biford 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 Biford research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Biford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Biford 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 Biford include: Biford, Biforde, Byford, Byforde, Bifford, Byfford, Biffard, Biffort, Byfford and many more.
Notables of the family at this time include
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 Biford or a variant listed above: