About us

This site is dedicated to the Besford name, a relatively rare surname and place name with a long and interesting history.

It brings together research into people who carried the Besford name, the places associated with it, and the historical records in which it appears. The material draws mainly on parish registers, census records, civil registrations, local histories and other archival sources. Where possible, individuals have been linked into family groups to help reconstruct the history of the name across different places and generations.

The surname has medieval origins and is associated with places called Besford in England, particularly in Worcestershire. From these beginnings the name spread to other parts of Britain, especially in the north-east of England, and in later generations, further afield.

For many years a small group of people worked to preserve material relating to the Besford name. This site brings that work together and makes it available online for the first time.

The project remains ongoing, and further material will be added as new sources are identified. Contributions, corrections and additional information are always welcome.

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