The name Garforte comes from an old Yorkshire place name, which is in turn derived fro the Old English elements "gara," which denoted a triangular piece of ground, and "ford," meaning a crossing place through shallow water.
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Early Origins of the Garforte family
The surname Garforte was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that shire and held a family seat at Sleeton.
Early History of the Garforte family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garforte research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1444, 1455, 1487, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Garforte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Garforte Spelling Variations
Only 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 Garforte has undergone many spelling variations, including Garforth, Garford, Garforde, Garforthe and others.
Early Notables of the Garforte family
More information is included under the topic Early Garforte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Garforte family
To 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 Garforte were among those contributors: Gervais Garford, who arrived in Salem, MA between the years 1620-1650; Richard Garford, who came to Maryland in 1651; Ruth Garford, who came to Virginia Year in 1714.
