According to the 'Surnames of the United Kingdom' by Henry Harrison (The Moreland Press, 1918), TORDOFF (Scandinavian) is a corrupt Yorkshire descendent of the Old Norse Thiodulf-r (Anglo-Saxo Theodwulf) meaning National Wolf. The modern Norwegian of this name is Tiodolv.
A very early appearance of the name is in the 9th century with Thordolf, 'skald' or personal poet to the Royal Court. He wrote many sagas, a number of which are still preserved, the most important being Ynglinga Tal, the personal history of the Ynlinga dynasty of Norwegian Kings in the 8th and 9th centuries AD.
Another famous skald was Thordolf Arnarson, born in the 11th century in Northern Iceland. Thordolf became skald to Harald Hardradi (King of Norway 1047 to 106). He accompanied Harald on many of his expeditions and was killed with him at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire on 15th September 1066. Their deaths are recorded in the Saga of Hemiry.
Two monks called Theodolf are named in the 9th century records from France, one being canonised as St Thiou. From 1113 to 1123 Teolfus was Canon of Bayeaux and in 1137 he became Bishop of Worcester. Thordulf (Thridwulf) was Abbot of Barwick in Elmet in Yorkshire in the 11th century, and the names of Geoffrey and Simon Theodulf appear in the 13th century Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire.
In 919 the Viking Reagnald took York from the Danes, who had previously taken it from the Saxons. It developed as a Norse city, the capital of a Norse kingdom comprising North Yorkshire and Cumbria. The Norse influence supports the idea that the TORDOFF name is of Norwegian origin.
| 1499 | William TORDOFFT, a pewterer, was listed in the rolls of the freemen of the city of York. |
| 1520 | The will of a William Tordoff was registered in York. |
| 1524 | In the Subsidy Roll for York the following entries occur: |
| Cuthbert TURDUFF profetts for wages 20s. | |
| Parish of St Martins, Coney St, Kateren TURDUFF, wydo, The said Kateren TURDUFF hath a childs porcon in her hands. Parish of St Sampson. | |
| 1525 | Will registered for Kataren TURDOFFE, widow of William TURDOFFE of York. |
It is probable that Cuthbert was a relation of Robert who appears in Wibsey. As Kateren TURDUFF is a widow she may have had a child called William. This might explain why so many Wibsey TORDOFFs have William as a name. It is reasonable to suggest that a William would name a son William.
| 1572 | 20th October Indenture of bargain and sale from William ROOKES of Royds Hall, gentleman, to Robert TORDOFFE of Wibsey. |
| 1588 | At Leeds Parish Church Thomas TORDUFFE marries Elizabeth DOBSON. |
| 1593 | Robert TORDOFFE (with others) bought land from William ROOKE. |
| 1605 | Robert TORDER involved in fine over lands in Wibsey and Tong. |
| 1618 | William TORDOFF rented ½ acre of land. |
| 1641 | Robert and John (Wibsey) Michael TORDAFFE (Bradford) sign the 'Protestant Return Against Popery'. |
| 1650 | (or earlier) Robert TORDOFF founded a pottery in Wibsey making salt glaze ware. |
| 1651 | Robert and John TORDOFF names as 'Suitors of the Court of Royds Hall and freeholders of the Manor of Royds Hall'. |
| 1680 | William and John TORDOFF took over Wibsey pottery. It is then continued in family management until 1739 when the site is sold to Low Moor Iron Works who build on it between 1788 and 1790. |
There are different spellings of the surname TORDOFF, including TURDOFFE, TORDIFFE and TARDUFF. This is due to the phonetic interpretation of it by the clerks and registrars who were the only people who could read and write before such skills were generally taught.
It has often been suggested that there is a Scottish connection, to be expected as Norwegian Vikings settled in Scotland and in Cumbria. The Vikings were made up from Scandinavians. TORDOFFs appear to come from Norwegian Vikings. It could, therefore, be expected that some form of the name would be found along trade routes used by Norwegian Vikings.
Unconfirmed reports have placed TORDOFF variants in Russia and Rumania, both places that had a strong Viking trade influence. So it is reasonable to expect that TORDOFF variants could be found in places such as the Channel Islands, Northern France and parts of Ireland. There is a small place called Torduff in Currie, Midlothian, and a Torduff Point in Gretna Parish in the north shore of the Solway. However it might be unwise to suppose that a geographic place name came from the same source as a personal name. It might also be unwise to suppose that all similar names to Tordoff came from the same source.
A variation of the name existed in Cumbria, though infrequently, with:
| 1738 | Marriage bond between Nathanial HENDY of Cameron and Martha TORDIFF of Holm Cultram. |
| 1742 | Marriage bond between John THORNTHWAITE of Plumbland and Ruth TORDIFF, widow. |
| 1743 | Marriage bond between John SIMON, Aspatria, and Sarah TORDIFF of Plumbland. |
| 1747 | Marriage bond between William THOMPSON of Ribton, Bridekirk and Elizabeth TORDIFF of Plumbland. |
It seems that the TORDOFFs of Wibsey had boys but the TORDIFFs of Cumbria had girls. An enquiry of British Telecom found only one private TORDIFF telephone listed in Cumbria in 1995, and no TORDIFFE in the Channel Islands.
It is often though that the TORDOFFs came south during the rebellion of 1745, but it is clear that the Wibsey TORDOFFs were established in the area long before this time.
It has been suggested that all TORDOFFs are related to each other and this may well be probable, all being descended from Robert TORDOFF of 1572. An inspection of the Marriage Registry microfiche from the year 1832 will show that most marriages take place in the Bradford district, although there is a movement out and a spread of the name over time. This can presumably be traced to original couples who settled and reproduced in the areas of Dewsbury, Halifax and towns in Lancashire. There is also a small group of TORDOFFs who are marrying in the Midlands. In addition, of course, TORDOFFs do emigrate to America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
It is difficult to tell if Leeds TORDOFFs are a separate grouping of Wibsey TORDOFFs who just happen to end up in Leeds. Some of them marry in Bradford and move to Leeds to work.
It might be that a TORDOFF family moved from York, through Leeds, and came to rest in Wibsey. If this took place over years, sons and daughters could have married and stayed in the area where they met a spouse. It appears that for many years there was a flow of people between Leeds and Wibsey. It could be that for many years the visiting of relatives, working and staying for a time and then returning to the Bradford or Leeds area took place. In three generations the actual reason for the connection could easily be forgotten, and then two separate but related groups would have formed.
© Ruth Keyworth, 1997
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