Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Somerforthe is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in the small English town of Somerford found in the county of Wiltshire.
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Early Origins of the Somerforthe family
The surname Somerforthe 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 Somerforthe family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Somerforthe research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Somerforthe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Somerforthe Spelling Variations
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. Somerforthe has been spelled many different ways, including Somerford, Somerfield and others.
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Early Notables of the Somerforthe family
More information is included under the topic Early Somerforthe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Somerforthe family
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 Somerforthes to arrive in North America: Geoffrey Somerford who settled in Virginia in 1654.
England
