The Anglo-Saxon name Soemerforth comes from the family having resided in the small English town of Somerford found in the county of Wiltshire.
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Early Origins of the Soemerforth family
The surname Soemerforth was first found in Wiltshire where there is a Great Somerford and Little Somerford. Both date back to 937 when they were listed simply as Sumerford. By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, the village was listed as Sumreford. The placename literally means "ford usable in the summer," from the Old English sumor + ford. 1 Somerford Keynes is located in Gloucestershire and that locale dates back further to 685 when it was listed as Sumerford.
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Early History of the Soemerforth family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Soemerforth research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Soemerforth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Soemerforth Spelling Variations
Soemerforth has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Somerford, Somerfield and others.
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Early Notables of the Soemerforth family
More information is included under the topic Early Soemerforth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Soemerforth family
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Soemerforths to arrive on North American shores: Geoffrey Somerford who settled in Virginia in 1654.
England
