Byfforde History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Byfforde come from when the family resided near a ford, a shallow place in a river or stream which could be crossed by wading. The surname Byfforde 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 Byfforde may also be derived from residence in the settlement of Byford in Hertfordshire. 2

Early Origins of the Byfforde family

The surname Byfforde 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

Early History of the Byfforde family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Byfforde research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Byfforde History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Byfforde Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Byfforde has been recorded under many different variations, including Biford, Biforde, Byford, Byforde, Bifford, Byfford, Biffard, Biffort, Byfford and many more.

Early Notables of the Byfforde family

More information is included under the topic Early Byfforde Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Byfforde family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Byfforde or a variant listed above: 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.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3