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Archiver > BRADFORD > 1999-02 > 0919091110


From: Robert Bradford <>
Subject: [BRADFORD-L] Re: Bradford name origin
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 10:05:10 -0500


I'm no expert, but my research on the Bradfords ends up in Yorkshire,
with the name being variantly spelled Bradforth or Bradfourth in the
14th century. This would seem to indicate a common etymological origin
with names like Gifford, Clifford and Stafford, which were - if I am not
mistaken - minor Norman families who took the Anglo-Saxon names of
locations in England shortly after the conquest. The earliest mention I
can find of the name was in an old copy of Cuttlers (sp?) New York
Geneaology (a 19th century imprint you may be able to find at a Family
History Center). This mentioned a Bradford who was archbishop of York
in the 13th or 14th century. That particular reference, if it can be
confirmed, gives a lot of weight to the theory that the Bradfords were
an Anglo-Norman family. I'd love to hear from anyone who has a copy of
this book - I have since lost my notes from reading it, and I found it
quite useful.
Irish Bradfords are almost certainly descendants of this line rather
than progeny. It was not uncommon for wealthy or lesser aristocratic
English families to take up lands in Ireland, but it was extremely rare
for that progression to work the other way around.
This is almost all conjecture based on a couple of facts I can recall
from my research. Since my reasoning and memory can both be faulty, I'd
welcome any corrections based on more substantial data.

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