Gatford Family History

In Sussex and Surrey, perhaps a variant of Catford with voicing of the initial consonant is noted. However, the G- spellings are very persistent and there is little sign of early variation with Catford, apart from William Catford in 1618 and Richard Catford in 1636 in IGI (Marden, Kent), where the initial C- might be an error. Otherwise, it could be one of the names in (2) -3 or (4) by migration from Gateford in Worksop (Notts), which is recorded as Gayteford, Gaitford, and Geitforth in the medieval period, and as Gatford in 154.

The place-name derives from Old English gāt ‘goat’ (genitive plural gāta), influenced by Old Scandinavian geit ‘goat’ + ford ‘ford, river crossing’. After 1500, there seems to be no sign of the gentry family of this name that had held the manor of Gateford since the 12th century. This name might also originate from Gateforth near Selby (WR Yorks), commonly recorded in the medieval period as Gayteford and occasionally as Gateford, with later forms such as Ga(y)teforth.

The place-name has the same etymology as Gateford (Notts) in (3) and the two surnames may have been confused. The Yorkshire name appears to have died out in Northern England during the 17th century (see Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames), although it may have survived further south by migration, possibly in an altered form. Some of the following early bearers may alternatively belong with (2).

There might be instances of it being an altered form of Gatward. Confusion regarding the final element of Gatward is illustrated in Vincent Gatworth in 1600, Elizabeth Gatward in 1602, Jone Gatewood in 1611, and Roger Gateford in 1618 in IGI (Stixwould, Lincs). However, the spellings in -worth, -ward, and -wood could equally well represent variants of Gat(e)ford.

Stixwould is not far from Lincoln, where Christofer Gaytforth is recorded in 1613 in IGI.