Show ContentsLatchford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Latchford

What does the name Latchford mean?

The ancestry of the name Latchford dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in the area of Latchford in the parish of Grappenhall in Chester. Latchford is a habitation name from the broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Latchford family

The surname Latchford was first found in Chester at Latchford, a chapelry in the union of Grappenhill, in the hundred of Bucklow. There is no mention in the Domesday Book of the place so presumably it was either of little significance or was established at a later time. Latchford had anciently two weekly markets and two annual fairs, granted to it by Edward III. The township is included in the parliamentary borough of Warrington, and comprises 731 acres. The family is believed to have originated here. Latchford is also a hamlet, in the parish of Great Haseley, poor-law union of Thame, hundred of Ewelme, in Oxfordshire, but this hamlet remained small through the ages as by 1890 it containing only 32 inhabitants whereas at that time the former Latchford had 2,361. 1

The Lackford variant is believed to have originated in Lackford, Suffolk, a parish, in the union and hundred of Thingoe. 1 Today, the parish contains the Lackford Lakes nature reserve and SSSI, created from reclaimed gravel pits. Lackford Hall was built around 1570, but the parish dates back much further than that. In fact, the Domesday Book of 1086 lists the place as Lecforda and probably meant "ford where leeks grow," from the Old English "leac" + "ford." 2 The Lackford hundred consisting of 83,712 acres and is similarly listed in the Domesday Book. 3

Early History of the Latchford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Latchford research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1630 is included under the topic Early Latchford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Latchford Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Latchford have been found, including Latchford, Latchforde, Lashford, Lashforde and others.

Early Notables of the Latchford family

More information is included under the topic Early Latchford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Latchford family to Ireland

Some of the Latchford family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Latchford migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Latchford, or a variant listed above:

Latchford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jan Latchford, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from Lancashire, in 1893
  • Sarah Latchford, aged 28, who settled in America from Lancashire, in 1893
Latchford Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • John Latchford, aged 21, who landed in America from Newcastlewest, in 1905
  • Anne Anderson Latchford, aged 48, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1905
  • ErneSt Patrick Latchford, aged 28, who landed in America from Tralee, Ireland, in 1907
  • Stephen Latchford, aged 26, who landed in America, in 1909
  • Dennis J. Latchford, aged 8, who landed in America from London, England, in 1921
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Latchford migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Latchford Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Latchford, aged 28, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Latchford (post 1700) +

  • George P. Latchford, American politician, Delegate to Illinois State Constitutional Convention 4th District, 1920-22 5
  • John Richard Latchford (1909-1980), English cricketer
  • David Barry "Dave" Latchford (b. 1949), English retired footballer who played in more than 208 matches
  • Peter William Latchford (b. 1952), English retired football goalkeeper
  • Robert Dennis "Bob" Latchford (b. 1951), English former association footballer
  • Francis Robert Latchford (1856-1938), Canadian lawyer, judge and politician who represented Renfrew South in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (1899 to 1904)


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. South Australian Register Wednesday 15th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Pestonjee Bomanjee 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/hyderabad1854.shtml
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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