The Gildeforth name has descended through the generations from the ancient
Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the village of Guildford, which was in the county of
Surrey. The surname was originally derived from the Old English word
guilford which denoted the "ford where the marigolds grew."
Early Origins of the Gildeforth family
The surname Gildeforth was first found in
Kent at Guildford, a county town that dates back to Saxon times c. 880 when it was first listed as Gyldeforda. About 978 or so, it was home to an early English Royal Mint. By the
Domesday Book of 1086,
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) the town's name have evolved to Gildeford and was held by William the Conqueror.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) Guildford Castle is thought to have been built shortly after the 1066 invasion of
England by William the Conqueror. As the castle is not listed in the
Domesday Book, it is generally thought to have been built after 1086. Over the years, the castle has gone through many hands and is today held by the Guildford Corporation. It's essentially in ruins, but the gardens are a very popular tourist site. The keep now contains a visitor centre, open between April and September.
Early History of the Gildeforth family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gildeforth research.
Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1455 and 1506 are included under the topic Early Gildeforth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Gildeforth 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 Gildeforth has undergone many
spelling variations, including Guildford, Guildeford, Guilford, Gilford and others.
Early Notables of the Gildeforth family (pre 1700)
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gildeforth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Gildeforth family to the New World and Oceana
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 Gildeforth were among those contributors: Samuel Guilford settled in Philadelphia in 1851; Margaret Guildford settled in New
England in 1769.
The Gildeforth Motto
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Animo et fide
Motto Translation: By courage and faith.