Kingsford

This interesting surname of English origin is a locational name from places called Kingsford in Devon, Essex, Warwickshire, meaning "the King's ford", and Kingsford in Worcester meaning "the ford of Cena's people". The surname dates back to the late 12th Century, (see below). Further recordings include one John de Kyngesford (1221), "The Assize Rolls of Warwickshire". Church records include one Grace Kingsford who married John Reynell on July 13th 1609, at Winkleigh, Devon. Guilielmus Kingsford was christened on May 15th 1645, at St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster, and Sarah Kingsford married James Beane on March 29th 1674, at St. Pancras, Soper Lane, London. William Kingsforde married Elizabeth Allwood at St. Dunstan in the East, London, on October 2nd 1690. Mrs Anna Kingsford (1846-1888), doctor of medicine and a religious writer; nee Bonus; married Algernon Godfrey Kingsford, vicar of Atcham, Shropshire, 1867; wrote stories in the "Penny Post" 1868-1872; practised in London and published miscellaneous works between 1863-1881. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edwin de Kingesford, which was dated 1185, Templars, Essex, during the reign of King Henry 11, "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. 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.