Gayforth

Gayforth
Recorded as Gayford, Gaiford, Gayforth, and possibly others this is an English surname, but of Olde French origins. It is a variant of the more popular Giffard or Gifford, and was once claimed to be almost exclusively recorded in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. First introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066 as Giffard, it is a good example of that sizeable group of early European surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. These were bestowed in the first instance with reference to a variety of characteristics, and frequently, as in this case, to a person's physical attributes or peculiarities. The name means "chubby-cheeked", and is recorded as a byname in the Domesday Book of 1086 in the Latinized form "Gifardus"; although the first recording of the surname is also found in Domesday Book as Walter Gifhard of Norfolk. The forms with "th" are the result of mistaken etymology from the Olde English "ford", ford, often found in Middle English as "forth". Recordings of the name from surviving church registers includeAnne Gayforde at St James Clerkenwell, city of London on May 2nd 1613, and the marriage of Richard Gayforth and Alice Johnson on January 24th 1635, at Spalding in Lincolnshire. 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.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Gaiford — Recorded as Gayford, Gaiford, Gayforth, and possibly others this is an English surname, but of Olde French origins. It is a variant of the more popular Giffard or Gifford, and was once claimed to be almost exclusively recorded in the northern… …   Surnames reference

  • Peter Penry-Jones — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Peter Penry Jones Nacimiento 1938 (69 ó 70 años) Cardiff, Wales, UK Otros nombres Peter Penry Año debut 1969 presente Pareja Angela Thorne (esposa) (22 de septiembre de 1967 presente) …   Wikipedia Español

  • Gofford — This unusual name is a variant form, almost exclusively peculiar to the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, of the more familiar surname Gifford or Giffard. The surname is of Old French origin, introduced into England after the… …   Surnames reference

  • Gofforth — This unusual name is a variant form, almost exclusively peculiar to the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, of the more familiar surname Gifford or Giffard. The surname is of Old French origin, introduced into England after the… …   Surnames reference

  • Goford — This unusual name is a variant form, almost exclusively peculiar to the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, of the more familiar surname Gifford or Giffard. The surname is of Old French origin, introduced into England after the… …   Surnames reference

  • Goforth — This unusual name is a variant form, almost exclusively peculiar to the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, of the more familiar surname Gifford or Giffard. The surname is of Old French origin, introduced into England after the… …   Surnames reference

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”