The origins of the Ratfart name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived beside a marsh or reedy ford. Ratfart is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.
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Early Origins of the Ratfart family
The surname Ratfart was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
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Early History of the Ratfart family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ratfart research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1561 and 1630 are included under the topic Early Ratfart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Ratfart Spelling Variations
Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Ratfart were recorded, including Radford, Ratford and others.
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Early Notables of the Ratfart family
More information is included under the topic Early Ratfart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Ratfart family
To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Ratfart family emigrate to North America: Cornelius Radford who was banished to Barbados in 1685; Heny Radford settled in St. Christopher in 1635; George, William, and Richard Radford settled in Virginia in 1637.
England
