Location of Bedfordshire, England
     The first recorded use of the name was in 1011 as "Bedanfordscir," meaning "Beda's ford" (river crossing).

     Bedfordshire was historically divided into the nine hundreds: Barford, Biggleswade, Clifton, Flitt, Manshead, Redbournestoke, Stodden, Willey, Wixamtree, along with the liberty and borough of Bedford.

Links:

History of Bedfordshire article on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
GENUKI, Colin Hinson's UK and Ireland Genealogy website
     Bedfordshire