Surname Cessford - Meaning and Origin
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Cessford: What does the surname Cessford mean?
The origin of the Scottish surname Cessford is believed to derive from the family estate of Cessford, situated near the village of Eckford in the historical county of Roxburghshire, Scotland. The earliest record of this name dates back to the year 1136.
The surname Cessford is thought to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century word cyse, meaning 'a cup', and ford meaning 'a ford', indicating that the original bearer of the name must have lived at or near a specifically named ford.
The family of Cessford held an Estates from the 11th century onwards, and held influence over a wide area of Scotland. In 1447, the Cessford family raised troops for the King against the invading English, and were rewarded for their loyalty with a Barony in 1451.
Today the surname Cessford is still found predominantly in Scotland, mainly in Edinburgh and the surrounding regions. The modern spelling of the name is typically Cessford, but variants are also found in the records. The Duke of Roxburgh, Alexander Hume-Rotherford upholds the ancient name and is head of the House of Cessford today.
Order DNA origin analysisCessford: Where does the name Cessford come from?
The last name Cessford is most commonly found in Scotland. It is believed to be derived from "Ceseford," a place-name found both in England and Scotland, but is most commonly associated with Scotland. The meaning of the name is "Ford of the Cheese," and likely originated sometime in the 14th century. Cessford is a surname primarily concentrated in the borders of Scotland and Cumbria. It is also found in other places in Scotland, as well as England, Wales, and Canada.
In Scotland, the most populous place with the surname Cessford is Edinburgh, the capital city. It is followed by other Scottish cities such as Glasgow, Perth, Aberdeen, and Dundee. In England, the most populous place with the name is London, followed by Manchester and Birmingham in the Midlands. In Canada, the most common place to find Cessford is Ontario, followed by Alberta and British Columbia, though there are a few families with the name in other parts of the country.
In terms of modern-day usage, the surname Cessford is still found across Scotland and England in modern times. It can be found in records dating back to the 16th century and is also commonly found on United Kingdom genealogy websites. In North America, the name is less common, but can still be found in some families' family trees.
Variations of the surname Cessford
The surname Cessford can have several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of the variants may be Cessfurd, Cessfort, Cessfri, Cessferd, and Cesseford.
The surname Cessford is derived from the Old English word “cess” which means “a manor or estate” and “ford” which is a shallow crossing. In a sense, the name describes someone who lived near a ford on an estate or manor. The first recorded spelling of the name Cessford appears in the Monasticon Anglicanum from the year 1086. This record was from the ecclesiastical records of Monmouthshire in Wales.
The spelling of the name Cessford changed several times over the centuries to include several variants. Cessfurd, Cessfort, and Cessferd are all versions that include enunciation purposes. Cesseford is an older version that would have been commonplace during the Middle Ages.
Throughout England and Wales, people with the surname Cessford or its variants can be found to some degree. Records of the name can be found in Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Hampshire, Lancashire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Wiltshire. In the United States, the name appears to have been mainly concentrated in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
Today, the Cessford surname is relatively uncommon around the world. It is estimated that there are fewer than 500 people in the United States and fewer than 2,000 around the world who bear the Cessford name.
Famous people with the name Cessford
- Bob Cessford: a former professional tennis player from South Africa
- Linda Cessford: former professional hockey player from Canada
- George Cessford: an English former footballer and coach
- Pat Cessford: a former professional rugby player from Australia
- David Cessford: an American country music artist
- Brian Cessford: an American former professional baseball player
- Keith Cessford: a British former Olympic athlete
- Phil Cessford: a Canadian former professional basketball player
- Robin Cessford: a retired British opera singer
- Joe Cessford: an American professional stock car racing driver