Genealogy Chat

I am wondering if anyone can enlighten me as to a probable reason/s as to why the the name Guildford was prevalent in West Yorkshire by the 1870s.

At the same time the Surname of Guildford seems to be extremely rare there.

I am particularly interested in the Hepponstalls of Grimethorpe & Liversedge, & Lawfords of Liversedge. (I am descended from Christianna Smith nee Hepponstall who called her son Guildford, possibly the first to appear in Nottingham.This name was inherited by my Father:much to his displeasure!)

I think I can explain why the name runs in the Slingsbys, Norths and the (Cork) Dudleys, all of whom pop up in disparent parts of Yorkshire.

Am I the only one to be intrigued by the name? Especially as I couldn't link it with the surname or Surrey.

On the plus side, it makes it easy to track your Smiths!

Rose

The meaning of the name Guildford is From The Marsh Marigold Ford

The origin of the name Guildford is English

The meaning of the name Guildford is From The Marsh Marigold Ford

The origin of the name Guildford is English

Who is this?

Was Christianna son a Smith or Heponstall?

Marriages Dec 1900
Heponstall Guildford Erpingham 4b 205

Rose

There was an MP at the time called Guildford Onslow.

Rose

Spelt differently:

Births Sep 1875
Hepponstall Gilford Dewsbury 9b 682

Rose

Many Thanks to you both.

Guildford Onslow is worth a check. He was as MP as was Sir Guildford Slingsby Junior, though much earlier. Although the Slingsbys had a seat in Yorks. they turn up in Kent & Ireland.

Guildford Hepponstall was the 1 born in 1875, hightown, Liversedge, Dews.
He was a master plasterer who married an Inn keeper's daughter in Sheringham Norfolk. Giving him 2 means of getting plastered! (Joke.)

There was a Guildford Dyson Onslow in Peterboro' I have just found. It is probably a coinincidence that I have picked up a Dyson Hepponstall in W. Yorks near to our lot! (Dyson is a Yorks. name as well as a vacuum cleaner.)

Christianna's Guildford was a Smith, & the first of his family to be born in Nottingham after his Father James Larrett Smith met with mixed fortunes after having been sacked as head game keeper at Brodsworth hall Doncaster, though it is believed that he was innocent!

Yes, having unusual names with the Smiths does help.

It is lovely to put a name to the flower: I just had a reference to yellow flowers previously & was thinking of yellow flags.

All of this is wonferful info. With Kind Regards, Sue.

PS let me know you receive this message: this is the 1st time I have done this.

There was a Guildford Dudley who married Lady Jane Grey back in Tudor times.

..and got executed for doing it..along with her!!
skimming through IGI by typing in the Christian name only..you will be surprised how many Guildford............'s there in the South of England and East Anglia...compared with Yorkshire!!

The first Guildford's in Yorkshire..allowing Guilford and Guildford to be interchangeable;;;;;;were the Slingsby's from 1560 ish..
You've mentioned a couple..and just for information ..here are a few more.:-

Guilford Lawford 10.09.1714 Otley
Guidford Sanderson 23.12.1827 Bradfield.
Guildford H hales 1874 Ecclesfield
Guildford Whitehouse 16.04.1882 Manningham/
...all the best

Derek.

Hi Everyone,

As my Dad, Guildford Bowling, is an anti -royalist, the Dudley association is of mixed feelings. I usually assure him that if his name is at all linked to royalty, at least it is of the beheaded variety. (Though of course it was extremely tragic, that Lady Jane Grey & Guildford Dudley met their ends in such a manner.)

Certainly on the IGI (which isn't conclusive) Guildford Dudley appears to be the first recorded.

Guildford Lawford is intriguing. There was a Guildford Lawford Charlesworth living close to a Clayton Hepponstall who named his son Guildford. I can't prove that theyknew each other. However both families probably have a link with Otley where G. Lawford was born. His father John Lawford was born in Ilkley in the late 1600s. It was in this area that the Vavasour family hang out. They married into the Slingsbys via Sir Francis Slingsby brother of Guildford senior.

However the name of Guildford didn't catch on in the Vavasours: they prefer Marmaduke & Mauger!

Of course Lawford is probably a southern name, so Guildford could have been imported from there.

(A Guildford Walker & Guildford Ramsden both born in W. Yorks.c. 1875, both have mothers from the south, so I discounted them, since both the christian & surname occur there.Although they still could have caught the name in Yorks.)

I have yet to chase up the Sandersons.

With Many Thanks, Sue.