Pitchford Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Pitchford Origin:

England

Origin of Pitchford:

It is a fascinating and readable surname which originates from an Anglo-Saxon origin, and it is also a locational name acquiring from one of the areas known as “Pickforde,” in Ticehurst, Sussex, or “Pitchford,” in Shropshire. After sometime it was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as “Piceforde.” In the Shropshire Fees Jury documentations of 1242, it was listed as “Pacford,” which means “an overpass where a pitch could be found.” It acquires from the Olde English pre 7th Century word “pic,” the actual form of this word is pitch, which is used here for a rock pitch, along with “Ford,” which means overpass, the real form of the word. In the Sussex area, the word “Pickforde” means “the hog overpass or across,” acquired from the Olde English words “picga,” pig, and “frod,” as prior. Regional names were provided to the King of the castle and to those old residents who migrated from one place to another. One Robert Picford was one of the old migrators to the New World, specifically Barbadoes, he was given a ticket for Virginia in September 1679.

Variations:

More common variations of this surname are: Pitchfoird, Ptchford, Pitchfort, Picchford, Patchford, Batchford, Butchford, Botchford.

England:

The surname Pitchford first appeared in Shropshire at Pitchford, a small hamlet, and church, in the time of Atcham, the hamlet derives its name from the hard adhesive fragrance that comes from the oily material that covers up the whole surface of the water. So the area means “overpass near a region where pitch if appeared.” It is associated with the Ancient English words “pic” and “Ford.” The Domesday Book of 1086 records the areas as Piceforde and is also registered as Pitchford Chamber as “Edric, and Leofric and Wulfric guarded it as three castles, they were unbound.” Today Pitchford Chamber is on a large Level I recorded Tudor country house that is mostly redeveloped. Areas of the Roman Watling Street runs all over the grounds. Previous documentations lists that Geoffrey de Pykeford, a warrior, was king of the castle since 1272. He also created the civil parish of St Michael, which consists of a wood statue of him.

The very first recording spelling of the family was shown to be that of John de Picford, which was dated 1273, in the “Shropshire Hundred Rolls.” It was during the time of King Edward I, who was known to be the “The Hammer of the Scots,” 1272 – 1307. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Pitchford settled in the United States in two different centuries respectively in the 18th and 19th. Some of the people with the name Pitchford who settled in the United States in the 18th century included Eliza Pitchford and Joseph Pitchford both arrived in Virginia in the same year in 1702.

Some of the people with the name Pitchford who settled in the United States in the 19th century included David Pitchford, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) Division, Pennsylvania in 1877.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Pitchford: United States 4,613; England 1,651; Wales 79; Australia 258; Scotland 20; Canada 162; South Africa 457; Germany 134; New Zealand 43; Spain 15.

Notable People:

Randall S. “Randy” Pitchford II was born in April 1971. He is one of the creators of video game house Gearbox Software and currently the CEO and administrator of the company.

Liam Pitchford was born in July 1993. He is a British player in table tennis. As of August 2016, he is graded as the no. 48 player in the world.

Walter Pitchford V was born in April 1992. He is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Florida and Nebraska before playing for the Raptors in 2015.

Sir Christopher John Pitchford was born in March 1947. He is a great British justice, recently senior Justice of Appeal in England and Wales.

Dean Pitchford was born in July 1951, Honolulu, Hawaii. He is an American composer, scripter, producer, actor, and novel writer.

Stephen “Steve” Pitchford was an English professional rugby league football player.

Max Pitchford (June 1903 – July 1968) was an old Australian rules football player who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Lee Brockhurst, co. Salop; allowed at the Visit. 1584). Az. a cinquefoil betw. six martlets or. Crest—An ostrich ar. beaked and ducally crowned or.
2) (Pitchford, co. Salop; descended from Ranulph de Pycheford, temp. Henry I.). Or, a lion pass. az. armed and langued gu.