Surname Ekkeford - Meaning and Origin
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Ekkeford: What does the surname Ekkeford mean?
The surname Ekkeford is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from a place-name meaning "oak ford". Ekkeford is primarily found in England, where records of the name date back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English "ac" or "eac", meaning oak, and "ford", a shallow section of a body of water, usually a river, that is known for allowing potentially hazardous crossings.
The earliest recorded version of the name dates back to 1184, when William de Ekardford is mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Northumberland. This was the name of two English hamlets in Cornwall and Dorset that existed before 1550. A few generations later, records exist for John Kykford, who was in Surrey in 1332, and Nicholas de Ekeford, who was in Essex in 1379.
It's currently speculated that the name may have first been given to someone who lived near an oak way-cross, likely located on a river. This would have identified them as an inhabitant of that area, as well as describe one of their defining features. It could also indicate that the original bearer was an owner of a bridge or other structure made of oak, making them a successful owner of a thriving business.
The Ekkeford surname is known to have spread to Scotland, the United States, and Australia. It is still found in England, primarily in the south and east, and in Northern Ireland. Today, it is a relatively rare and unique surname, and still carries the connotation of being an inhabitant of or related to an area surrounded by oak trees and a ford.
Order DNA origin analysisEkkeford: Where does the name Ekkeford come from?
The last name Ekkeford is not common today, particularly outside of Great Britain. The name is primarily most closely associated with the county of Devon in the southwestern corner of the United Kingdom, where it is one of the least common last names in the country.
The earliest known mention of the Ekkeford family was in Wiltshire in 1273, where a witnessing statement submitted during a legal dispute involving Henry de Ekeford referred to him as son of Humphrey. The family likely originated in some other part of southwestern England before arriving in Wiltshire.
The Ekkeford family is thought to have remained in the same general area of Great Britain for centuries. The vast majority of births, marriages, and burials involving individuals with the last name Ekkeford occurred in England between 1600 and 1900. Records from later periods indicate the name is still relatively common in some parts of southwestern England, especially in Devon, but is rarely found in other parts of the country or abroad.
Variations of the surname Ekkeford
The surname Ekkeford is an English patronymic surname derived from the name Eckford or Aitchison, meaning "son of Ecce or Ait".
Variants of the Ekkeford surname include Ekford, Ecford, Eckford, Eckeford, Aitchinson, Aichison, Eichison, Eichisson, Eckison, Aichinson and, Aitchinson.
The spelling of the surname is an integral part of its history. During medieval times, it was common for names to be spelled according to sound. Thus, Ekkeford may have been spelled many different ways when it first appeared in written documents.
The surnames Aitchison and Aichison are two spelling variations of the same name. Both spellings have a common origin, being derived from the Middle English personal name Eghte, Egete, or Aete, which in turn derive from the Old Norse name Ait,meaning "ancestor", "nobleman" or "ancestral spirit".
The surname Eckeford is the direct descendant of the Old English personal name Ecce, meaning "Edge" or "Edge-ford". A derivative of this surname is Eckford, which is the Anglicized version of the German surname Eckenforf, meaning "village at the edge of a ford".
Finally, Eichison, Eichisson, Eckison and Aitchinson, also spelling variations of the surname Ekkeford, derive from the patronymic surname Aitchison, which itself is derived from the Middle English personal names Aete and Eghte.
Thus, Ekkeford is a surname that has numerous variants and spellings, all originating from the same roots. Each variant is unique in its history and can represent a different branch within the family tree.
Famous people with the name Ekkeford
- Didrik Ekkeford, a Norwegian alpine skier
- Helena Ekkeford, a contestant on the Swedish version of the show ‘Big Brother’
- Peter Ekkeford, skier and animator
- Joachim Ekkeford, a Norwegian Paralympic skier
- Bjørn Ekkeford, a Norwegian singer
- Elias Ekkeford, a Swedish football player
- John Ekkeford, a British musician
- Carl Gottlieb Ekkeford, a Swedish poet
- Hans Ekkeford, a Swedish hockey player
- Maggie Ekkeford, a former teacher, delegate to the Norwegian Parliament
- Jane Ekkeford, an award-winning athlete
- Carl Ekkeford, a Swedish businessman