Surname Beresford - Meaning and Origin
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Beresford: What does the surname Beresford mean?
The last name Beresford is derived from the old French phrase “Beau Resfor”, which translates to “fair fort” or “handsome refuge”. It is believed to have originated in England and dates back to the 12th century. The name Beresford is often associated with nobility, and individuals with the last name have been known to hold power and influence through their strength and prosperity.
The last name Beresford likely originated from a place name, derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning a fort or stronghold and "ford" translating to a river crossing. This gives the suggestion that the first holder of the surname was likely to have lived near a river and a strategic structure.
The phrase “Beau Resfor” is believed to have been given to those who were of high status within a community or to those who held similar social or political importance. Today, the name Beresford is commonly found in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. It is quite unique, as it is not a very common last name and is not found in many other countries.
The last name Beresford is a proud and ancient one that signifies a long lineage of strong and powerful individuals. Those with the last name Beresford are often associated with nobility, strength, and prosperity.
Order DNA origin analysisBeresford: Where does the name Beresford come from?
The last name Beresford is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. Specifically, it is mainly concentrated in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
According to the Office for National Statistics, Beresford is the 7,259th most popular surname in the UK, with 10,436 people carrying the name. Beresford is especially associated with the counties of Lancashire in the northwest, Warwickshire in the Midlands, and West Yorkshire in the north.
The Beresfords have been traced back to the mid-13th century in Derbyshire, where a family of knighted Beausfords held the estate of Blackwell. This estate was granted to the noble Beresford family in 1286.
In addition, records of the Beresford family appear in the Dietz and Pedemontana regions of Ireland in the 16th century. It is believed that a branch of the Beresfords emigrated from Derbyshire to Ireland during this time.
Today, the original Beresford estate is a ruin, but the family name lives on in the UK and around the world. Beresfords have become famous in many fields, from acting to politics to literature.
Variations of the surname Beresford
The surname Beresford has many variations in spelling and a few related surnames. Some of the most common alternate spellings are Beresforde, Beresforth and Beresfurd. Several other surname forms fall under the same origin, including Barresford, Barresforth, Berresford, and Barresfurd.
The most likely origin for the surname Beresford lies in the Old French terms "berefosse," meaning "cornland," and "ford," meaning "ford." Thus, the name Beresford could mean "cornland ford" or a crossing within a field of corn. This suggests that the family who first surfaced using this name was probably living in an area populated with corn fields or crossed by a ford.
Related surnames include Baresford, Bereford, Bereforde, Berkshire, Berseford, Berseforde, and Bersfurd. These forms come from the same French roots, but differ slightly in pronunciation or spelling. Other related surnames stem from the Middle English terms "bere," meaning "bare" or "naked," and "ford," such as Barford and Bareford. Still others come from similar Old English roots, such as Birchesford and Birchford.
One interesting piece of information regarding the Beresford surname is that its spelling and usage was frequently altered due to illiteracy. When the name was first created, there were few spelling conventions in place and scribes and officials usually wrote the names as they were pronounced. Therefore, it was not uncommon to find several spellings and variants of the same family name.
Famous people with the name Beresford
- Bruce Beresford: Australian film director who has twice been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director.
- Gwynneth Beresford: British film actress best known for her role in The Iron Lady (2011) with Meryl Streep.
- Emma Beresford: British actress known for appearing in the British comedy films The Inbetweeners (2008) and The Edge of Love (2009).
- Peter Beresford: British sociologist and author specializing in the field of disability studies.
- Henry Beresford: British politician, Viscount Beresford.
- Colley Beresford: British soldier and privy counsellor, who became Governor of Bombay in the 19th century.
- Patrick Beresford: British racing driver and European Formula Two champion in 1953.
- Dame Mary Beresford: British diplomat most notable for serving as head of mission to Iran in 1971–74.
- Lord William Beresford: Anglo-Irish soldier, politician, colonial governor, and member of the British Independent Labour Party.
- Jack Beresford: British rower and Olympian, who won five gold medals at the Olympic Games between 1920 and 1936.