Danforth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Danforth

What does the name Danforth mean?

The Danforth surname is thought to have been a habitational name taken on from a place name; possibly from Darnford in Suffolk, Great Durnford in Wiltshire, or from Dernford Farm in Sawston, Cambridgeshire. These place names are derived from the Old English words "dierne," meaning "hidden" and "ford," or in other words "a ford across a river." 1

Of all these parishes Durnford, Wiltshire is the largest and dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was recorded as Diarneford. 2 Denford, Northamptonshire was listed in the Domesday Book as Deneforde. 2

Early Origins of the Danforth family

The surname Danforth was first found in Northamptonshire at Denford, a parish, in the union of Thrapston, hundred of Huxloe. 3 Upper Denford is a hamlet in Berkshire, England, and part of the civil parish of Kintbury and this may the source of the family too. 4

Early rolls revealed early spellings used at that time: Nicholas de Darneford in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279; Robert de Derneforde in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327; and James Danford in Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1568. 5

Framlingham, Suffolk would prove to be the homestead for an important branch of the family. It was here that Nicholas Danforth (1589-1639) and his wife, Elizabeth Symmes Danforth (c.1596-1629) would raise six surviving children who as a family emigrated to Massachusetts aboard the Griffin in 1634. This family was the progenitors of the Danforths in Massachusetts including Thomas Danforth (1623-1699), the English-born, politician, magistrate, and landowner who was a magistrate and leading figure in the colony at the time of the Salem Witch Trials.

Early History of the Danforth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Danforth research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1327, 1455, 1487, 1568, 1570, 1622, 1626, 1634, 1639, 1643, 1650, 1657, 1658, 1659, 1674, 1679, 1681, 1686, 1692 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Danforth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Danforth Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Danforth, Danford, Danforde, Danforthe, Damforth and many more.

Early Notables of the Danforth family

Distinguished members of the family include

Samuel Danforth (1626-1674), an American Puritan minister, poet, and astronomer born in Framlingham, Suffolk, arriving in Massachusetts in 1634
Thomas Danforth (1622-1699), born in Framlingham, Suffolk, emigrated to New England in 1634 with his family and later became a judge for the 1692 Salem witch trials. He was son of Nicholas Danforth of...

Danforth Ranking

In the United States, the name Danforth is the 4,907^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6

Danforth migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Danforth Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nicholas Danforth, who settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1634
Jonathan Danforth (1628-1712), English surveyor, born in Framingham, High Suffolk, who arrived in America aboard the Griffin in 1635, progenitor of the Danforths in Massachusetts including Asa Danforth (1746-1818) and his son, Asa Danforth Jr. (1768– c. 1818 )

Danforth Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Allen Danforth, who immigrated to the United States, in 1903
Donald Danforth, aged 4, who landed in America, in 1906
Cora Danforth, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
Agnes H. Danforth, aged 25, who settled in America, in 1910
Adelbert Danforth, aged 7, who immigrated to the United States, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Danforth (post 1700) +

William H. Danforth (1870-1955), American businessman from Charleston, Missouri, founder of the Ralston Purina Company in 1894
David Charles "Dauntless Dave" Danforth (1890-1970), American Major League Baseball pitcher with the Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Sox, and St. Louis Browns
Charles Haskell Danforth (1883-1969), American anatomist and professor at Stanford University
Elizabeth T. Danforth, American illustrator, editor, writer, and scenario designer for role-playing games and video games
Loring M. Danforth (b. 1949), American professor of anthropology and an author
Walter Raleigh Danforth (1787-1861), American jurist, journalist, and 4th mayor of Providence, Rhode Island 1853-1854
William Henry Danforth II (1926-2020), American physician, professor of medicine, and academic administrator, Chancellor Emeritus of Washington University
William "Bill" Henry Danforth II (1926-2020), American physician, professor of medicine, and academic, Chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis from 1971 until 1995
Douglas Danforth (1923-2015), American baseball executive for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Emily M. Danforth (b. 1980), American author, Assistant Professor of English at Rhode Island College
... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/