Gifford

Gifford
This surname of considerable antiquity and was introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It has two possible origins. The first is from the early Germanic personal name "Gebhardt", composed of the elements "geb", meaning gift and "-hard", brave, hardy or strong. The popularity of St. Gebhardt, the bishop of Constance at the end of the 10th Century, contributed to the continued use of the given name into the Middle Ages. The second possible origin is from the Old French word "Giffard", used as a nickname for someone thought to be chubby-cheeked. This is also a derivative from the German in this case "giffel", meaning cheek. The modern surname can be found as Giffard, Gifford, Gyford, Gyfford, Jefferd and Jefford. Edward Gifford was an early emigrant to the New World, leaving London on the ship "Safety" in August 1635, bound for Virginia. A coat of arms granted to the family has the blazon of on a red field, three lion's passant argent in pale. The crest being a leopards face ore breathing fire gules. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Gifard. This was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book for Cambridgeshire, during the reign of King William 1st, 1066 - 1087. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Gifford — may refer to:* Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland *United States ** Gifford, Florida ** Gifford, Illinois ** Gifford, Indiana ** Gifford, Iowa ** Gifford, Pennsylvania ** Gifford, South Carolina ** Gifford School, a special education school in… …   Wikipedia

  • Gifford — ist der Name folgender Personen: Frances Gifford (1920–1994), US amerikanische Schauspielerin Frank Gifford (* 1930), US amerikanischer American Football Spieler und Sportmoderator Gene Gifford (* 1908), US amerikanischer Gitarrist und Arrangeur… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Gifford — Pueblo de los Estados Unidos Ubicación en el …   Wikipedia Español

  • Gifford — Gifford, FL U.S. Census Designated Place in Florida Population (2000): 7599 Housing Units (2000): 3595 Land area (2000): 7.048580 sq. miles (18.255738 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.454519 sq. miles (1.177199 sq. km) Total area (2000): 7.503099 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Gifford, FL — U.S. Census Designated Place in Florida Population (2000): 7599 Housing Units (2000): 3595 Land area (2000): 7.048580 sq. miles (18.255738 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.454519 sq. miles (1.177199 sq. km) Total area (2000): 7.503099 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Gifford, IL — U.S. village in Illinois Population (2000): 815 Housing Units (2000): 316 Land area (2000): 0.632666 sq. miles (1.638597 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.632666 sq. miles (1.638597 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Gifford, SC — U.S. town in South Carolina Population (2000): 370 Housing Units (2000): 146 Land area (2000): 0.941406 sq. miles (2.438230 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.941406 sq. miles (2.438230 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Gifford — (spr. gifförd), 1) William, engl. Dichter und Übersetzer, geb. im April 1756 zu Ashburton in Devonshire, gest. 31. Dez. 1826 in London, war früh verwaist, wurde zuerst Schiffsjunge, dann Schuhmacher, ward aber in seinem 20. Jahre durch Gönner in… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Gifford —    GIFFORD, a village, in the parish of Yester, county of Haddington, 4 miles (S. by E.) from Haddington; containing 525 inhabitants. This village, which is beautifully situated on the east bank of the Gifford water, and in the picturesque vale… …   A Topographical dictionary of Scotland

  • Gifford — Gifford, Will., geb. 1757 zu Ashburton in Devonshire; war erst Schiffsjunge, dann Schuhmacher u. studirte später auf Kosten mehrerer Gönner in Oxford. Dort wählte ihn der Graf Großvenor zum Begleiter seines Sohns. Seine Anhänglichkeit an das… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Gifford — Gifford, Swain, nordamerik. Landschaftsmaler, geb. 23. Dez. 1840, seit 1866 in Neuyork; Gemälde mit heimatlichen Motiven, ital. und nordafrik. Landschaftsbilder …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

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