Did de Rochefort become Ratchford?
I have a theory, that any historian or genaology expert could shoot full of holes, but I think the name Ratchford evolved from the Norman name de Rochefort. (strong rock)
The earliest de Rochefort I could find was Guy II Montlthey, Count de Rochefort, 1009. I think those people were Vikings that over stayed thier welcome and settled the Norman coast of France. I think Rochefort is a town on the Norman coast. They were warriors who ingratiated themselves to the French monarcy by fighting thier battles for them, and became the Norman knights. One of the de Rocheforts, married Louis VI, and was the mother of Louis VII.
There was probably at least one de Rochefort in the Norman invasion of England in 1066. The name had 104 years to become a little more Anglicized by the time the Anglo-Normans invaded Ireland in 1170.
There is a 500 year gap between the first de Rochefort I could find in England, and the firt Ratchford I could find in London (1590). I think that would have been plenty of time for the name to be Anglicised to Ratchford.
The name apears to have gone through the evolution of de Rochefort, Rochefort, Roche (a lot of those in Wexford), Rachfort,Rachfoorth, Rachford, Ratchfort, and Ratchford (amoung other forms).
There were also ships from Rochefort that sent soldiers to Ireland to join in the Franco-Irish rebellion of 1798, but I don't think that would have given enough time for the name to become so Anglicezed.
I found 254 Ratchfords listed for the British Isles in the Mormon Church genaology files in Salt Lake. All but 30 were English and most belonged to the Church of England. The records go back to the late 16th century. Many lived in London, but also Manchester, Hampshire, Liverpool, Chester and prety much all over the country. There were a couple in Scotland.
There were only about 30 Irish Ratchfords listed, but I think thats because the records were burned up in the "Post Office" battle in Dublin in the Irish rebellion of 1921.
The few records there were came pretty much from one Ratchford family in Mayo around 1790 to 1830.
Let me know what you think. Is this really stretching things?
Jim Ratchford
More Replies:
-
Re: Did de Rochefort become Ratchford?
Darren Hall 5/06/03