| {{ad}} |
|
|
|
The present generation of the Standifer family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the village of Stanford that was found in at least ten parishes in England.
The surname Standifer was first found in Staffordshire but was found in various counties including: Stanford, Kent; Stanford Bishop, Herefordshire; Stanford Dingley, Berkshire; Stanford in the Vale; and Stanford le Hope in Essex. The name literally means "stone ford" or "stony ford" 1 and was listed in the Domesday Book in numerous places too. The Stainforth variant called Darnall in Yorkshire their ancient family seat. "The Hall [of Darnall], built by the Staniforths, was the residence of that family for several generations, and afterwards a seat of the late Duke of Norfolk's." 2
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Standifer research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1175 and 1461 are included under the topic Early Standifer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Standifer include Stamford, Stanford, Staniford, Staniforth, Stainforth, Stannford, Stanforth and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Standifer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Standifer is the 7,938th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Standifer were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: