Surname Bamford - Meaning and Origin
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Bamford: What does the surname Bamford mean?
The last name Bamford is derived from a place-name derived from the Old Norse elements bam, meaning "beam" or "tree trunk", and ford meaning "ford" or "river crossing" - thus referring to a geographically significant feature such as a sturdy tree spanning a river crossing. As a surname, it is most commonly found in the region of Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire in England - all historically heavily wooded areas.
The surname can be spelt in many ways, such as Bamford, Bamphford, Bampford, Bamfort, Bampforth, Bampfurd and Bampfyord. It is often hyphenated as Bam-ford or Bam-forth. Occasionally, people with this surname may also be found in Scotland, Ireland and other parts of the world due to migration.
The Bamfords were a family of Anglo-Saxon origins and can be traced as far back as contemporary records are available, to the 12th century. They were prominent landowners in northern England throughout the Middle Ages and belonged to the landed gentry. There are many notables with this surname, ranging from historical figures to prominent politicians and celebrities.
Order DNA origin analysisBamford: Where does the name Bamford come from?
The Bamford surname is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom, with the largest concentrations in the counties of Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire. Records indicate that the Bamford family can be traced back to medieval times in Lancashire, where the name appears to have originated.
Other significant concentrations of the Bamford surname are found in the United States and Canada, although it is much less common in these countries. In the United States, the Bamford surname is most common in the states of California, New Jersey, and New York. The name is also concentrated in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.
There are also scattered instances of the Bamford surname around the world, with the source of those families often traced back to the UK. Many of these instances are a result of migration, especially during the early 20th century when many people from the British Isles emigrated to other countries.
Overall, the Bamford surname is most common in the United Kingdom, particularly in counties of Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire. From there, it was spread around the world, with notable concentrations in the United States, Canada, and other countries.
Variations of the surname Bamford
The variant spellings and surnames of Bamford include Bamfort, Bemford, Bemfurd, Bamforte, Bemforte, Bamforth, Bemforth, Bamfard, Banford, Bampton, Bampfield, Bompfield, Bampford, Bompford, Bumford and Bamfird.
Bamford is an English toponymic surname believed to have originated due to one or more individuals having lived near a homestead in the 14th century. The toponym is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century ford by the stony stream, which is composed of the elements: ‘stane’ meaning stone, and ‘ford’ for a shallow ford.
The earliest paternal record of the family name was William de Bamfort found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1275. This was prior to the introduction of hereditary surnames in England in about 1220.
The earliest recorded spelling of the family name was in 1313, when Walter de Baunford was mentioned in the “Record of the Pleas for City of York”.
The modern spelling form Bamford first appeared in the 17th century marriage record of Alice Bamford and Richard Jump in 1614. The baptismal register of St. Botolph, Aldgate, London, England notes the birth of a John Bamford in 1585.
In 1891 there were recorded 1,910 occurrences of the name Bamford throughout Great Britain, mainly in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire. The most notable family of the surname Bamford is the prominent Bamford family of Sandbach, Cheshire.
Famous people with the name Bamford
- Margaret Bamford: English actress best known for her roles in the TV shows My Parents Are Aliens and You, Me & Him
- Paul Bamford: English tennis player from the 1990s known for his Dracula-inspired clothing choice
- Steve Bamford: Former English professional golfer and golf commentator
- John Bamford: Imperial War Museum film historian
- David Bamford: British journalist and editor of The Independent and The Guardian
- Lionel Bamford: British businessman, former chairman of JCB and Vice-Chairman of Land Rover
- Kami Bamford: American actress, best known for her role in the movie Adaptation
- Will Bamford: English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
- Catriona Bamford: British actress, best known for her roles in the TV shows Doc Martin and Shameless
- David Bamford: English professional rugby union player