Wratchford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Wratchford

What does the name Wratchford mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Wratchford comes from when the family resided beside a marsh or reedy ford. Wratchford is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Wratchford family

The surname Wratchford was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Wratchford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wratchford research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1561 and 1630 are included under the topic Early Wratchford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wratchford Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Wratchford include Radford, Ratford and others.

Early Notables of the Wratchford family

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

Migration of the Wratchford family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Cornelius Radford who was banished to Barbados in 1685; Heny Radford settled in St. Christopher in 1635; George, William, and Richard Radford settled in Virginia in 1637.