Origin of the surname Hafford

This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is one of the many dialectal variants of Halford, an English locational surname from any of the various places so called: in Devonshire, recorded as "Halford" in the 1275 Hundred Rolls; in Warwickshire, which appears as "Haleford" in 1176 in "Documents preserved in France"; and in Shropshire, appearing as "Hauerford" in 1155 (Index to the Charters and Rolls in the British Museum). The places in Devonshire and Warwickshire are named with the Olde English pre 7th Century elements "halh", a nook or narrow valley, and "ford", a ford, hence a "ford in a halh"; while the place in Shropshire means "hawker's ford", from the Olde English "hafoc", hawk, with ford as before.

Locational surnames were acquired especially by those former inhabitants of a place who had settled elsewhere, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace, and regional and dialectal differences subsequently produced variants on the original name. In the modern idiom, the surname from Halford can be found as Halford, Hawford, Hafford, Howford, Hofford and Hoffard. Early recordings of the name include the christening of Thomas, son of Richard Howforde, at Leigh in Gloucestershire, on October 20th 1575, and the marriage of Jane Howford and Robert Minchin on November 23rd 1579, at Castle Eaton, Wiltshire. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Howford, which was dated January 20th 1542, marriage to Agnes Barne, at Longdon, Worcestershire, during the reign of King Henry V111, known as "Bluff King Hal", 1509 - 1547. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Hafford. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

The history of the surname hafford is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of hafford. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname hafford, and in addition to the original locations of hafford, we can find out where people with the surname hafford can currently be found. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of hafford.

The surname Hafford around the world

It is common for surnames like hafford to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. The mobility of people carrying the surname hafford has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Hafford

The historical journey of the surname hafford can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of hafford. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname hafford are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname hafford.

You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname hafford, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname hafford or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of hafford.

Notable Figures Named Hafford

Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all haffords who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. A surname like hafford can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. If you or someone you know bears the surname hafford, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname hafford who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.

The surname Hafford and its bibliographic sources

It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname hafford. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname hafford, as well as many other surnames. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of hafford.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of hafford, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Hafford