Higforthe History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of HigfortheWhat does the name Higforthe mean? Higforthe is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from a family once having lived in the old village of Hickford, Shropshire. Early Origins of the Higforthe familyThe surname Higforthe was first found in Shropshire, but we must look to Oxfordshire to find one of the first listings of the name, that being Edith de Hicford who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 1 "Sir Robert Atkyns, in his Ancient and Present State of Gloucestershire, says (p. 109) that 'The Higfords were of an ancient family in Salop, originally styled Hugford.' About the reign of James I the surname was turned into Higford: this, of course, has now become Hickford." 1 Early History of the Higforthe familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Higforthe research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1273, 1581, 1596, 1597, 1607 and 1657 are included under the topic Early Higforthe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Higforthe Spelling VariationsThe 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. Higforthe has been recorded under many different variations, including Hickford, Hikford, Hicford, Higford, Higeford, Hugford and many more. Early Notables of the Higforthe familyDistinguished members of the family include William Higford (1581-1657), born near Alderton, Gloucestershire, a writer and Justice of the Peace. He was a Puritan, born of a good family. On 14 January 1596-1597, he matriculated at Oriel College, Oxford. He married Mary, daughter of... Migration of the Higforthe familyFor 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 Higforthe or a variant listed above: John Hickford, who sailed to Maine in 1640 and Thomas Hickford to Maryland in 1669.
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