Origin of the Name "Abbotsford"

There has been much discussion and controversy through the years regarding the origin and spelling (one ‘T’ or two?) of the name "Abbotsford." In fact, as stated in a 1924 letter from J.C. Maclure Jr. to the Abbotsford Board of Trade, "the name is a combination of two ideas."

Firstly, the name commemorates a friend of the Maclure family, Harry Braithwaite Abbott. Abbott was born in Abbottsford, Quebec, on June 14, 1829, the son of Rev. J. and Harriett Abbott. He entered the service of the C.P.R. in 1882 as a construction manager for the Sault Ste. Marie branch. By the time he retired in 1897, he was the general superintendent for the British Columbia Division of the C.P.R.*

Secondly, according to Maclure’s communication with the Board of Trade, the name of the town was also taken from Sir Walter Scott’s home, Abbotsford Castle in Scotland. Thus, though, Abbott’s name has two ‘T’s, the name of the town has only one.

Note: The Great Northern Railway (G.N.R.) station spelled the name Abbotsford with two ‘T’s on its wall, but with only one in its timetables.

* - From Who’s Who in Canada.

TThe original journal of John Charles Maclure shows his entry regarding purchase of 160 acres and in his own handwriting, the word "Abbotsford" resolving once and for all that the original name was Abbotsford with only one "t"!

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