Show ContentsPettiford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The family name Pettiford dates back to the beginnings of the Norman culture in Britain - the Norman Conquest of 1066. Originally, Pettiford was a name given to a person who never tired of walking or a soldier who had lost his foot in battle. The name Pettiford is an Anglicized form of the Old French word pedefer, or pied de fer, which means iron foot. 1 2

Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the "Old French, petite and fere, 'the little wild beast.'" 3

Early Origins of the Pettiford family

The surname Pettiford was first found in the 11th century when the Latin name Herbertus Pedesferri was recorded according to the source Old English Bynames. The Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire recorded John Pedefer as holding lands there in 1190. A few years later, John Piedefer was listed in the same rolls for the same county in 1198, but no mention if this was the same person. William Pedifer was found in the Assize Rolls for Warwickshire in 1221 and William Petifer was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. Richard Pitifer and William Pidefyr were both listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1332 and later in Huntingdonshire, we found William Putifer in 1382. Again in Huntingdonshire, William Petefer was listed in 1392. The name was common and sometimes used as a nickname alone: Piedefer 1186, Pipe Rolls for Worcestershire, Pie de Fer 1185, Pipe Rolls for Norfolk. 1

Patrick Pedefere during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377) was a Freeman of York. Robertus Pedefer was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. William Petifer (Petefer, Petipher or Petyfre) of 1548 was registered at the University of Oxford. Robert Pettifer was listed as the Sheriff of Gloucester in the year 1603. 4

"Pettipher is an ancient Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire name, and further allusion to it will be found under those counties in reference to Puddephatt, which is probably a corruption of it. There was a Bampton family of Pettifer last century. The name of Pettipher occurred amongst the labouring classes of Culworth, Northamptonshire, a century ago (B.). The Rev. John Pettyfer, or Pettifer, was vicar of Blakesley, Northamptonshire, early last century. Cussans, in his "Hertfordshire" suggests that in that county the name of Pedefer (Pied - de - Eer?), which occurred in Ippolitts, Herts, in the reign of Edward III., was the original of Puddephatt, a Bucks as well as a Herts name. This is probable, hut at any rate his suggestion is still more applicable to the origin of Pettipher. Pettypher: Peytever or Pettypher, the name of mayors of Wycombe in the 16th and. 17th centuries." 5

Early History of the Pettiford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pettiford research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1633, 1651, 1665, 1668, 1696, 1703, 1717, 1718, 1760 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Pettiford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pettiford Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Pettiford were recorded, including Pettifer, Pettipher, Petipher, Petifer, Petiver and many more.

Early Notables of the Pettiford family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was James Petiver (c.1665-1718), an English botanist and entomologist, son of James and Mary Petiver, born at Hillmorton, near Rugby, Warwickshire. He later became a London apothecary and Fellow of the Royal Society. He corresponded with naturalists in all parts of the world, and...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pettiford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pettiford Ranking

In the United States, the name Pettiford is the 7,251st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6


Pettiford migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Pettiford arrived in North America very early:

Pettiford Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Elizabeth Pettiford, who settled in Maryland in 1720

Contemporary Notables of the name Pettiford (post 1700) +

  • Kenneth Pettiford, American head college football coach
  • Valarie Pettiford (b. 1960), American stage and television actress, dancer, and jazz singer
  • Oscar Pettiford (1922-1960), American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer
  • John "Jack" Pettiford (1919-1964), Australian cricketer


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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