Surname Bodyford - Meaning and Origin
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Bodyford: What does the surname Bodyford mean?
The surname Bodyford is of English origin. It is believed to be derived from an old English word meaning ‘dweller by the river ford’. It is thought that a river ford, or shallow water crossing where people could cross either by foot or by boat, once existed near the ancestral home of this family.
The first known use of the name is believed to have come from the town of Bournhamford in Oxfordshire in the late 12th century. The families of Bournhamford were deeded the lands of Glastonbury and Bournham in 1217 by King John I. The name became Bodyford when the family took on the name of the land.
Today the surname Bodyford is found mainly in England, Wales, and Australia. It is not a very common surname, but it is still widely used in its original parts of England and Wales, as well as having gained popularity in more distant countries such as New Zealand, America and Canada.
When researching the history of the name Bodyford it is clear to see the amount and scope of the changes which have occurred over the years. From a humble beginning in the small village of Bournhamford to countries thousands of miles away, the name has come along way. Its legacy and history will surely continue for many generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisBodyford: Where does the name Bodyford come from?
The surname Bodyford is thought to originate from the old English words 'boda' and 'ford', which mean boat crossing. It is likely that the earliest people to bear this name lived near a body of water or a boat crossing.
Today, Bodyford is believed to be more commonplace in certain regions of the United States and Canada, especially along the Eastern Seaboard. There are also small numbers of people bearing this surname throughout Europe, most notably in the United Kingdom.
However, the highest densities of people bearing the Bodyford name can be found in Australia. Census records from 2016 revealed that the surname was most popular in the coastal state of New South Wales, with the city of Melbourne being the most heavily populated city of Bodyfords in the country.
From a global perspective, it appears that Australia is the present home of the highest number of Bodyfords. Therefore, one would assume that this surname is most closely associated with the nation, although there are significant concentrations of the title across multiple continents.
Variations of the surname Bodyford
The surname Bodyford is an English locational name, derived from the place known as Bodenford, which is located in the county of Yorkshire. There are a few known variants and spellings of the surname Bodyford, including Bodenford, Bodyfords, Botenforde, Boddenford, Botsenford, Boomford, Boidford, and Bourdford.
The surname Bodyford is thought to be derived from the two Old English elements “boden” and “ford” meaning enclosure or dwelling place and crossing, respectively. The two combined literally translates to “ford of the enclosure”. This surname is known to have been present in records as early as the late thirteenth century, and can be found in various documents from the period as Boidford and Boomford.
Variations in the spelling of the surname Bodyford can also be seen in some of the other surnames associated with it, such as Botenforde, Boddenford, and Botsenford. The surname Bodyford may also have been changed to Bourdford at some point, though it is unknown why.
All of these surnames and spellings are associated with the same origin: Bodenford in Yorkshire. No matter the spelling, these variations all trace back to the same place of origin and share the same ancestry.
Famous people with the name Bodyford
- Ashton Kutcher: American actor, comedian, investor, and producer
- Jerry O'Connell: American actor, director, and writer
- Meggie Janssen: American singer-songwriter best known for her role in the musical group "The Ducklings"
- Anastasia Bodyford: American Olympic gymnast, who won a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Games
- Christy Brightford: British-born Australian actor and former model
- Christopher Bodyford: British actor best known for his role in the television comedy show "The IT Crowd"
- John Bodyford: English royalty and member of the House of Lords
- Mandy Bodyford: Canadian actor, singer, and television presenter
- Richard Bodyford: English actor best known for his roles in "The Full Monty" and "The Queen's Gambit"
- Rupert Bodyford: British poet, illustrator, and children's book author