Tadford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Tadford

What does the name Tadford mean?

The name Tadford reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Tadford family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Tadford family lived in Lincolnshire, at Tetforde.

Early Origins of the Tadford family

The surname Tadford was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Tetforde from very ancient times, some say from the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 A.D. They were conjecturally descended from Gilbert of Tetford who held his lands from the Archbishop of York at the time of the Domesday Book Survey in 1086. At that time the village consisted of a church, a mill, and nine outlying mills.

Early History of the Tadford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tadford research. Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tadford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tadford Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Tadford include Tetford, Thetford, Titford, Thetforde and others.

Early Notables of the Tadford family

More information is included under the topic Early Tadford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tadford family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Tadfords to arrive on North American shores: Eward Thetford who settled in Maryland in 1725. In Newfoundland, George Titford was a mariner of Harbour Grace in 1849.