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![Show Contents]() Byforth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The ancestry of the name Byforth dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived near a ford, a shallow place in a river or stream which could be crossed by wading. The surname Byforth 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 Byforth may also be derived from residence in the settlement of Byford in Hertfordshire. 2 Early Origins of the Byforth familyThe surname Byforth 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 Byforth familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Byforth research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Byforth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Byforth Spelling VariationsSpelling 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 Byforth have been found, including Biford, Biforde, Byford, Byforde, Bifford, Byfford, Biffard, Biffort, Byfford and many more. Early Notables of the Byforth familyMore information is included under the topic Early Byforth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Byforth familyFamilies 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 Byforth, 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.
- 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
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