This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a variant form of Bamford, a widespread surname of locational origin, from places so called in Derbyshire and Lancashire, recorded as "Banford" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and "Bannford" in the Feet of Fines of 1282, respectively. These placenames share the same derivation, that is from the Olde English pre 7th Century "beam", tree, plank, and the Olde English "-ford", a ford. This possibly describes a ford that could be crossed by means of a tree trunk or plank bridge by those who wished to keep their feet dry. During the Middle Ages, when migration for the purpose of job-seeking was becoming more common, people often took their former village name as a means of identification, resulting in a wide dispersal of the surname in a number of variant forms. Early recordings include Thomas de Bamford (1312), and Christopher Bamfurth (1539, Nottinghamshire). Recordings from London Church Registers include the christening of Michell Bamford on January 22nd 1544, at St. Peter's, Eastcheap, and the marriage of Elizabeth Bumford and Johnes Catlynsone on June 2nd 1577, at St. Andrew's, Enfield. Joseph, son of Joseph and Anne Bumford, was christened on February 2nd 1737, at St. John's, Bedwardine, Worcestershire. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Bamford, which was dated 1228, in the "Curia Rolls of Suffolk", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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