Surname Bodford - Meaning and Origin
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Bodford: What does the surname Bodford mean?
The last name Bodford is of English origin and is thought to derive from an Olde English personal name, Bodwine. The name Bodwine is composed of the Olde English elements “bod” and “win” meaning “announce” and “friend” respectively. Thus, the name was generally taken to refer to either an important spiritual figure or a friendly and welcoming person. The place name suffix “ford” is commonly thought to refer to a shallow body of water or a crossing place in a river. Thus, the surname Bodford may have been acquired by a family who lived beside a ford or lived in a region where a ford was once located. Alternatively, the surname may have been derived from a nickname, referring to the physical characteristics of a Bodwine, or a descriptive term conveying his qualities, which were associated with being friendly and welcoming. Thus, those bearing the surname Bodford today may be descended from a friendly or important person from the past, or may simply have been acquired by living in a region where a ford existed.
Order DNA origin analysisBodford: Where does the name Bodford come from?
The Bodford surname is derived from a place-name in eastern England, known variously as Beadford, Bedford, and especially Bodford. The name might have originally referred to a farmstead in the area, with the "-ford" suffix indicating a ford in a stream, and the "Bead-" pre-fix likely referring to a historical person or family group. Today, the last name Bodford is most often found in the United Kingdom, particularly in the county of Bedfordshire, where it has a long history of presence. It is also found with some regularity in other parts of England, especially in the East Midlands and East Anglia. Significant but smaller numbers of the Bodford surname are also reported in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These are likely the result of emigration from the UK in the 19th and late 20th centuries.
Variations of the surname Bodford
The Bodford surname is an English patronymic surname derived from the personal name Batho or Baddo. It is often found different spelling variants within records, as medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded. Common spelling variants found include Bodfert, Baddfoot, Badgeford, Bawdfoot, Baldeford, Baudeford, Bawdford, Baudford, Bawdforth, Boffarth, and Bofford.
The surname was originally derived from a number of places and regions in England containing the Old English or Old French elements “bad” and “ford”. These place names included Badford in Dorset, and Bagford in Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire.
In addition to the Bodford surname, surnames that are closely related include Bawdford, Bawder, Bawdrey, Bawdrick, Bawdrig, Bawdry, Bawdically, Baudfey, and Baldway. It is also possible that the surname was adapted as a derivative of a baptismal name such as Baldwin.
The earliest record of the Bodford surname dates back to the mid-15th century when John Bawdfote, was mentioned in the 1281 Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire. Other records of note include Christopher Bawdford in the 1510 Subsidy Rolls of London, and Matilda Bawdwidow of Lancashire mentioned in the Lancashire tax records of 1332.
Famous people with the name Bodford
- Hannah Bodford: A well-known portrait painter from the UK, her works have appeared in several exhibitions in the country.
- Robert Bodford: An American cyclist, Bodford participated in the US Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado in 2014.
- Ian Bodford: A poet whose works have been published in journals across the US.
- Archie Bodford: An English footballer who had an impressive career between 1936 and 1958.
- Francesca Bodford: A British designer and fashion blogger, her work has been featured in various magazines.
- Janet Bodford: The first female chief engineer for the Royal Air Force, Bodford achieved the position in 1979.
- John Bodford: An artist who works out of England, his pieces have been showcased in galleries across the UK.
- Roger Bodford: A former English cricketer, Bodford played for Surrey in the 1990s.
- Mary Bodford: A British philanthropist whose charitable works have been highly praised.
- Harry Bodford: A famous actor and comedian from the US, Bodford starred in several popular television shows.