Dunford Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Dunford Origin:

England

Origin of Dunford:

The origin of this surname derives originally from an Anglo-Saxon location from the Dunford overpass, a village near Penistone, in the West driving of Yorkshire, or from the Dunford House in Methley, also in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The area near Penistone is near to the river Don (an old British name which possibly meaning “river”), and combined with the Olde English pre 7th Century word “Ford,” which means bridge. Therefore, the entire combined meanings of names are “a bridge on the river Don”. The area in Methley derives from the Middle English (1200 – 1500) word “Dunn”, from the Olde English word “Dunn”, which means bright-coloured (frequently used as a love name for a man with black hair or a swarthy coloring), and the Olde English word “Ford”, which has the same meaning as earlier. Thus, the whole meanings of the word are “Dunn’s Bridge.” Sometimes it is hard to be exact about a surname acquired from a famous geographical idiom like “(at) the bridge on the River Don,” or from a developed place name, as in this condition called Dunford. Andrew Dunford married Elizabeth Scott in April 1617, at Thornhill, Yorkshire. A royal monogram given to the family is a red shield with a gold crescent, and a silver curve.

Variations:

More common variations of this surname are: Dunnford, Dunfford, Duneford, Dunn-Ford, Dunniford, Denford, Danford, Dinford, Dunfort, Donford.

England:

The surname Dunford first originated in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from early times.

The very first recording spelling of the family was shown to be that of Thomas Dunfurth, which was dated March 1581, named at Thornhill by Dewsbury, Yorkshire. It was during the time of Queen Elizabeth I, who was known to be the “Good Queen Bess,” 1558 – 1603. 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. Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling varieties of the original one.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Dunford settled in the United States in three different centuries respectively in the 17th, 18th, and 19th. Some of the people with the name Dunford who settled in the United States in the 17th century included Thomas Dunford at the age of 33; an English nobleman arrived in Jamestown, Va. aboard the ship “Bona Nova” in 1619.

Some of the people with the name Dunford who settled in the United States in the 18th century included Anne Dunford and Philip Dunford; both arrived in Virginia in the same year in 1711. Thomas Taylor Dunford married Elizabeth Keeling in Cumberland division, Va. in 1712. John Dunford brought to land on the eastern seaboard in 1718.

Some of the people with the name Dunford who came to the United States in the 19th century included James Dunford brought the family name to New York City in 1820.

Canada:

Individuals with the surname Dunford settled in Canada in two different centuries respectively in the 18th and 19th. Some of the people with the name Dunford who settled in the Canada in the 18th century included John Dunford arrived in Battle Harbour in 1795.

Some of the individuals with the name Dunford who settled in Canada in the 19th century included Philip Dunford married in St. John’s Newfoundland in 1813. John Dunford settled in Nova Scotia in 1841.

New Zealand:

Some of the people with the name Dunford who settled in New Zealand in the 19th century included Robert Dunford arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Mermaid” in 1859. Worthy Dunford, who was a worker at the age of 23, arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Assaye” in 1874.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Dunford: United States 4,583; England 3,049; Ghana 559; Australia 486; Kenya 314; Canada 1,279; South Africa 621; Wales 237; Ireland 175; New Zealand 178.

Notable People:

Joseph Francis Dunford, Jr. was born in December 1955. He is a United States Marine Corps General. Now, he is the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chieffs of Staf. He was also the 36th Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Jason Edward Dunford was born in November 1986 in Nairobi. He is a Kenyan swimmer.

Jake Dunford was born in June 1994. He is a professional cricket player who plays for Jersey.

Matt Dunford (born March 1968) is a British rugby player.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Notes: None. Blazon: Sable three rams’ heads cabossed argent armed or. Crest—A lion’s head erased argent in the mouth a dexter hand couped at the wrist proper.
Notes: None. Blazon: Gules a crescent or, and bend argent.