I began researching my family in the early 1970’s and discovered that the Springfords came from Wiltshire and before 1800 more commonly used the surname Springbat(t).

I have collected much information that is now easily available on commercial websites but over the last 50 years I have gained a familiarity with the various branches in different villages in the Vale of Pewsey and as it spread further afield.

I had a website online sharing my research for some years and was given very precious information by a number of distant relatives who contacted me through the site.

Springford  - Springfoot – Springfoote

Springbatt – Spryngbat – Springbat – Springbit – Springbutt – Springbott

Springbett – Spryngbet – Springbet – Springbelt – Springbed

The earliest references to the surname are for Spryngbet and Spryngbat found in the 1460’s and 1470’s at Tackley’s Inn and Oriel College, Oxford and Upton Scudamore and Warminster, Wiltshire. The parish registers suggest that there were only three men bearing the surname in the late 1500’s. These men were found in the Vale of Pewsey, Wiltshire: in Urchfont; Beechingstoke and Wilsford.

It became evident that an alias was in use and commonly came into play when they married in town, away from their village or changed residence and moved to a new location. In the late 16^th and early 17^th centuries there are examples of Springfoot or Springfoote at Marlborough and in All Cannings. But this alias quickly changed to Springford.

Most families had adopted Springford by the early nineteenth century with the  sole exception of the Wilsford near Pewsey Springbat(t)s whose name changed to Springbett which may have been the original root surname.

John Spryngbet or Spryngbat was a master of Oriel College Oxford in 1461.

Richard Spryngbet – husbandman – litigation at Scdmorys Upton,  Wiltshire 1472

Richard and Thomas Spryngbett of Warmyster – husbandmen litigation 1477

Yelsebeth Springbed married Wyllyam Hewerd in 1557 at Urchfont, Wiltshire

Richard Springbat or Springfoote of All Cannings, Wiltshire married Jane Bartlett in 1629 his descendants were Springbat or Springford.

Isaac Springford alias Springbatt of Melksham will proved 1787

We have a Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/springfordaroundtheworlw