Willsfort History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins and Etymology of Willsfort

The surname Willsfort was first found in either Lincolnshire or Wiltshire. Both counties have parishes named Wilsford. Of the two, the Wiltshire parish is the oldest as it dates back to Saxon times when it was known as Wifelesford in 892. Both were listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 with the same spelling: Wivelesford. 1

The place names mean "ford of a man called 'Wifel,'" from the Old English personal name + ford. 2

As far as early rolls are concerned, we found Heldewin de Wiuelesford in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1177 and Juetta de Wiuelesford in the Pipe Rolls for Wiltshire in 1201. 3

Early History of the Willsfort family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Willsfort research. Another 169 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1091, 1106, 1432, 1455, 1487, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Willsfort History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Willsfort Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wilsford, Willsford, Willfort, Willesford, Wilesford, Willsfort, Willesfort, Wyllsford, Wyllesford, Wylesford and many more.

Early Notables of the Willsfort family

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

Migration of the Willsfort family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Thomas and Bridget Wilsford, who settled in Virginia in 1653; Mary Willsford, who arrived in Virginia in 1657; Henry Wilsford, who arrived in London, England in 1734.

Sources +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)