Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
BEDFORD
As described in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
(origin: Local) A town and shire in England; from the Saxon bedan, battle, war, slaughter, and ford, a way or shallow place for crossing a river. Byddin-ffordd, Welsh, the route or way of the army.
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
BEDFORD. Godwidere and Osgar de Bedeford were tenants in capite in Bedfordshire, 1086. Domesd. The former had held the same lands before the Conquest.
Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English