Show ContentsKnottford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Knottford family

The surname Knottford was first found in Cheshire at Knutsford, a town and parish in the union of Altrincham, E. division of the hundred of Bucklow. The origin of the place name is indeed interesting. One reference sites that as the place was once situated "on the banks of a small stream, across which was formerly a ford. Canute, the Dane, is said to have passed over the ford with his army for the conquest of the northern parts of the kingdom, in the reign of Ethelred I., or that of Edmund Ironside; and it may thence have been called Canute's Ford." 1 However, other references claim that the place name is originally "spelt Knotsford; according to tradition, several generations of the name of Knott had a mill on the stream, and as the working of the mill mainly regulated the depth of water at the ford, the place was called after them Knot's ford." By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, it was listed as Cunformed, part of the barony of Halton. 2

Early History of the Knottford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Knottford research. Another 171 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1510, 1558, 1562, 1600 and 1644 are included under the topic Early Knottford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Knottford Spelling Variations

Spelling 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 Knottford have been found, including Knotsford, Knottsford, Knutford, Knutsford, Knottsford, Knottesford, Notsford, Nottsford, Nutsford, Nuttsford, Knotford, Knottford, Notford and many more.

Early Notables of the Knottford family

More information is included under the topic Early Knottford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Knottford family

Families 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 Knottford, or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


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