Rochford Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Rochford Family History

Rochford Family History

The family history of the ancient name Rochford was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Rochford include Rochfort and Rocheford. This is a locational name meaning 'of Rochford', from a ford over the River Roche. This name was taken to England from France with the great Norman invasion lead by William the Conqueror in 1066. Two towns in England were named after the Rochforts in Counties Essex and Hereford. An early record of the name refers to a Guido de Rocheford, London, who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', in the year 1273. A George Rocheford was baptised in Saint James, Clerkenwell, in the year 1601. In 1777 a John Cable and Sarah Rochford were married in Saint George, Hanover Square. A William Rochfort and Elizabeth Sperling were married in the same place in the year 1778. A branch of the family moved to Ireland after the Anglo-Norman invasion, with their name being rendered in those early times as 'de Rupefort'. They settled in County Meath and are commemorated by the village of Rochfordbridge. The Cork Rochfords are derived from the name 'de Ridlesford'. The Rochford family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Rochford descendants.