Trafford

Trafford is a British surname of Old English origin. The Trafford family is one of the oldest recorded families in England, tracing its roots back to Radulphus, who died in about 1050. As (Anglo-Saxons), the Traffords initially resisted the Normans, but were granted a pardon shortly after the Norman conquest of England, when they took the name de Trafford. The creation of Trafford: Starting in April of 1016, Cnut Sweynson of Norway and his army swept North-West across Wessex. Cnut’s Viking army was composed of mercenary soldiers from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Poland. They were led by a warrior named Rafe’ or Ranulph. They fought and defeated the army of “Wolvernote”, (likely Wolfnoth Cild, father of the future Earl Godwin and his brother Wolfnoth), at the fortified village of Whickleswick, near the old Roman river crossing of trey-ford on the river Irwell. In the spring of 1017 Cnut was crowned King of England. One of his first acts as king was to award the lands formerly controlled by “Wolvernote” to Ranulph and made him a lord. Ranulph established his demesne at trey-ford in a modest moated manor. He also took the name of the place, and became Ranulph, Lord of Trafford. This begun the ancient family of Trafford. That manor would later be called “Trafford Hall” or “Moat House”, home of the Trafford family for the next 683 years. Generation #1: Ranulf, Rafe, Ranulph, Radulphus Lord of Trafford, confirmed under Danish rule Born: between 965-992 (Scandinavia) Died: about 1050 at Trafford Married: Adelaide about 1038 (Born about 994-1016, Died about 1050) Children: Radulphus of Trafford B: about 1037-1040 D: about 1100 Robert fitz Randolph of Trafford B:about 1068 D: about 1130 Established at Trafford House starting in 1017, also known as “Moat House” In 1017 is made lord of Trafford (Trey-ford) by King Canute, awarded the lands of “Wolvernote” “Radolphus owned many manors including at Trafford, Lancashire and Cheshire” Lived under King Canute and Edward the Confessor.