Surname Bodiford - Meaning and Origin
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Bodiford: What does the surname Bodiford mean?
The last name Bodiford is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is likely derived from the Old English words "boda" and "ford." Together, these two words translate to mean a “messenger's passage” or a “way for a messenger”. This is likely because the individuals with this surname were originally appointed as messenger for the royal court, making them responsible for delivering news and important messages. During the Middle Ages, the messenger’s job was a prestigious one as they were the only ones able to travel to distant towns and villages to spread the news from the court. They were also paid well for this job and, eventually, the power and prestige associated with the position caused some of the families to become wealthy and influential in their communities. As a result, those families with the Bodiford surname came to represent a very important and respected social class. Over time, Bodiford became a surname for generations of messenger’s families who continued to carry the name and honor its origins.
Order DNA origin analysisBodiford: Where does the name Bodiford come from?
The last name Bodiford is most common in the United States. Although the name was first found in Yorkshire, England, in the mid-14th Century, the Bodiford family had moved to the United States by the early 1800s.
Currently in the US, the Bodiford name is most prevalent in the Southeast and Midwest. In particular, it can be found in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama.
In the South, the Bodifords were one of the earliest settlers of the region, and the family has grown to become quite prevalent throughout the area. The surname is also comparatively common in parts of the Midwest as well, especially in Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.
The Bodiford name continues to be closely connected with the South, where members of the family have prospered for centuries. Their contribution to the local history and culture is still recognisable in many of these states, where the Bodiford name is an important part of the social fabric.
Variations of the surname Bodiford
The Bodiford surname, as seen on historical records, has a few different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These are Bodeyford, Boydforth, Boadford, and Bowdifourde. The Bodiford surname is a patronymic surname, meaning it was formed from the father's name or personal name (given name).
The surname Bodiford originated from the Old English personal name Beodfrod, which was derived from boed (beetle) and frod (wise, clever or sagacious) which, when combined, were originally used to describe someone who was sagacious or wise like a beetle.
The Bodiford surname was recorded in England as early as 1202 and possibly earlier. In 1202, the surname was recorded in the Feet of Fines of Suffolk, and later in 1230, record of a Johannes Bodefrod appeared in the Feet of Fines of Cambridgeshire. By the 13th century, the name had been shifted to phonetically pronounced spellings, and by 1320 there were at least two variant spellings, Bodiford and Bodeyford, as seen in records from Somerset.
The different variant spellings of Bodiford such as Bodeyford, Boydforth, Boadford, and Bowdifourde are derivative forms of the original Bodiford surname. The Bodiford surname may be found in many locations across England under these different variations, for example a Johannes Bodeyford was listed in the Close Rolls of Norfolk in 1380.
Variations on the Bodiford surname would have been created due to the Middle English period of which literature was highly influenced by the spoken language at the time. This caused individuals to pronounce their own surnames which then, in turn, helped to create variations on the Bodiford surname. In addition, some of the forms of the Bodiford surname could have been created due to the migration of individuals to different parts of England during this period.
Famous people with the name Bodiford
- Chris Bodiford: American lacrosse coach and former professional player.
- LaFay Bodiford: Former American college football player and current strength and conditioning coach.
- NaDree' Bodiford: Former American college basketball player and current professional basketball referee.
- Justin Bodiford: Former American college football player and current professional football player.
- Clay Bodiford: American film score composer.
- Clay Henry Bodiford: American disc jockey known as "DJ Clay" and portrayed by actor Jason Alexander in the feature film School of Rock.
- Stan Bodiford: American singer, songwriter, and producer.
- John L. Bodiford Jr.: American judge and former Texas state representative.
- Pat Bodiford: American politician and former Texas state legislator.
- Sgt. Charles Bodiford: U.S. Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.