Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Ofarth is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in or near the settlement of Haworth in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Hayward's Heath in Sussex is another possible origin of the name. The surname Ofarth belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.
The surname Ofarth was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Haworth, a chapelry, in the parish of Bradford, union of Keighley, wapentake of Morleywhich. [1] Historically part of Lancashire, the village dates back to 1209 when it was originally listed as Hauewrth. Literally the place name means "ecnlosure with a hedge," from the Old English words "haga" + "worth." [2]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ofarth research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1767 and 1833 are included under the topic Early Ofarth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Ofarth has been spelled many different ways, including Haworth, Howarth and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Ofarth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Ofarths to arrive in North America: John Haworth settled in New York in 1820; James, John, and Richard Haworth arrived in Philadelphia between 1820 and 1860; Thomas Howarth settled in Maryland in 1699.