Bamforth Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Bamforth Origin:

England

Origins of Bamforth:

This name is of an English locational origin from either of two places thus called – Bamford in Derbyshire and Lancashire. The former, noted as Banford in The Domesday Book of 1086 and as Bamford in the 1228 Charter of that country, acquires its name from the Old English pre 7th Century “beam” meaning a laser, and Ford, a Ford; hence, “river ford with a beam (or footbridge).” The latter was noted as Baunford in the 1282 “Fine Court Rolls of Lancashire” and as Bamford in 1322 named from similar components. The land of Bamford in Lancashire was given to Thomas de Bamford by Sir Adam de Bury near the year 1216. Amongst the regional variant spellings of the name are Banford, William Banford being noted at the Parish of St. Mary Whitechapel in December 1664, Bunniford also appeared in London in the same period and Bunford, which may acquire from either Banford or Bunniford. In September 1820, Sarah Bunford, daughter of Thomas, named at St. Leonards Parish, Shoreditch. The name shows as Bunford, Banford, Bamford, Bamforth and Baumford in the 1379 “Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire.”

Variations:

More common variations are: Baumforth, Bamfirth, Pamforth.

England:

The surname Bamforth first appeared in Lancashire, where “the estate of Bamford given to Thomas de Bamfordby, Sir Adam de Bury, temp. Henry III, for his loyalty and, services.” As noted above, Yorkshire was next to a stronghold of the family as recorded in early rolls. The Hundredorum Rolls list Richard de Bamford there in 1273 and after that the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 record as Adam Bamforth and Adam de Baumford. Another source records as “In the 17th century there was an old family of Bamford of Bamford House. There was also another family of Bamford Hall. Jerome Bamford held land in the Mealegate in the estate of Manchester during the reign of Elizabeth. The name well organized in Rochdale parish in the 16th century and still occurs there.

The very first recorded spelling of the family was shown to be that of Wiliam de Bamford, dated about 1228, in the “Pipe Rolls of Suffolk.” It was during the time of King Henry III who was known to be the “The Frenchman,” dated 1216 – 1272. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England.

Ireland:

Many of the people with surname Bamforth had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

Australia:

Some of the individuals with the surname Bamforth who landed in Australia in the 19th century included George Barnforth, an English prisoner from York, who shifted aboard the “Andromeda” in October 1826, settling in Van Diemen‘s Land, Australia.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Bamforth: England 1,307; United States 248; Australia 171; Canada 87; New Zealand 40; Scotland 33; Netherlands 13; Spain 9; South Africa 2; Wales 2.

Notable People:

Scott Douglas Bamforth (born August 1989) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Bilbao Basket of the Liga ACB.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

(The High House, co. Derby). Ar. a fesse engr. gu.