Bearefert History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of BearefertWhat does the name Bearefert mean? The ancestors of the name Bearefert date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The surname is generally thought to have come from a place name, such as from Burford in Oxfordshire, or Burford in Shropshire. 1 These place names are derived from the Old English words "burh," meaning "stronghold," or a "fortified manor," and "ford," a location where a river can be crossed. Some variations of this surname, no doubt come from the Old French word "buffet," meaning "table" or "cupboard." 2 Early Origins of the Bearefert familyThe surname Bearefert was first found in Shropshire where two of the first listings of the family were listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Hugo de Bureford: and Roger de Bureford. 3 William le Burford and Walter le Boreforde were both listed in Kirby's Quest as holding lands in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) 4 Early History of the Bearefert familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bearefert research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1329 and 1620 are included under the topic Early Bearefert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bearefert Spelling VariationsOnly recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Bearefert has undergone many spelling variations, including Burford, Bareford, Berford, Barford, Buford, Burfort and many more. Early Notables of the Bearefert familyMore information is included under the topic Early Bearefert Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Bearefert family to IrelandSome of the Bearefert family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Bearefert familyTo escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Bearefert were among those contributors: William Burford, who came to Virginia in 1637; William Buffett, who was on record in Virginia in 1657; George Burford settled in Virginia in 1643; George Burford, who came to Montserrat in 1663.
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