Washford Family History
Washford Name Meaning
apparently from Washford (Somerset) or Washford Pyne (Devon) although almost all early bearers are found much further east especially in Surrey and Sussex. The Somerset place-name is recorded as Wecetforda in a 12th century copy of a document from the 10th century and takes its name from the place-name Watchet (from Proto-Welsh *gwo + *cę̄d ‘lower wood’) + ford ‘shallow place by which water can be crossed ford’. The Devon place-name is recorded as Wesforda in 1086 and Wassheford in 1292 and derives from Old English (ge)wæsc ‘washing a flood’ + ford.
Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016