Somerford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Somerford belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in the small English town of Somerford found in the county of Wiltshire.

Early Origins of the Somerford family

The surname Somerford 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.

Early History of the Somerford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Somerford research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Somerford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Somerford Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Somerford include Somerford, Somerfield and others.

Early Notables of the Somerford family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Somerford of Cheshire

Somerford migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Somerford were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Somerford Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Geoffrey Somerford who settled in Virginia in 1654

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)