The ancestors of the name Burfor 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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print. 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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Early Origins of the Burfor family
The surname Burfor 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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) 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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Early History of the Burfor family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burfor research.
Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1329 and 1620 are included under the topic Early Burfor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Burfor Spelling Variations
Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few
hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Burfor have been found, including Burford, Bareford, Berford, Barford, Buford, Burfort and many more.
Early Notables of the Burfor family (pre 1700)
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Burfor Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Burfor family to Ireland
Some of the Burfor family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Burfor family to the New World and Oceana
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in
England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in
England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Burfor, or a variant listed above: 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.