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![Show Contents]() Nantford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The proud Nantford family originated in Cornwall, a rugged coastal region in southwestern England. In early times, people were known by only a single name. However, as the population grew and people traveled further afield, it became increasingly necessary to assume an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames are derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. The Nantford family originally lived in the village of Nanfan, in Cornwall. Members of the family were involved in the blacksmith trade and prior to the 18th century often went by the occupational name Trengove, from the Cornish words tren meaning strong, and angove, meaning smith. Many used the name Trengoff of Nance. Early Origins of the Nantford familyThe surname Nantford was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Nanfan. "So early as the days of Henry VI. Trethewell [in the parish of St. Evall] was purchased by the family of Nanfan; who, during the preceding reign, were in a state of comparative obscurity, but were raised by the favour of the reigning monarch, as a reward for the services they rendered him in the foreign wars in which he was engaged. John Nanfan is the first gentleman, that, in the records of the Pipe Office, is distinguished with the appellation of Esquire. This was in the reign of Henry VI. when he was made sheriff of Cornwall, which appellation was not generally given to those who filled this office till the days of Henry VIII. Several of this family were sheriffs of this county in the fifteenth century. In the days of Henry VIII. this estate was carried in marriage by an heiress to Erisey." 1 Early History of the Nantford familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nantford research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nantford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Nantford Spelling VariationsCornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Nanfan, Nanfant, Nantford and others. Early Notables of the Nantford familyMore information is included under the topic Early Nantford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Nantford migration to West Indies | + |
The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 2Nantford Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century- Francis Nantford who settled in Barbados in 1672
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Nantford migration to West Indies 
