Surname Colford - Meaning and Origin
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Colford: What does the surname Colford mean?
The last name Colford is of English origin. It is derived from the Old English elements "col," meaning coal, and "ford," meaning a shallow crossing, typically through a river or stream. Thus, the name Colford literally translates to "coal river crossing," and may have been used to refer to a particular area of land which was frequently crossed by people carrying coal for trade or other purposes.
The first records of the Colford surname appear to date back to the late 12th century. During this time, the Colfords were prominent landowners and members of England's nobility. Notable settlers of the surname included Julian Colford, who settled in Virginia in 1623, and Sarah Colford, who was one of the first settlers in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Today, the surname Colford is not particularly common, and is primarily found in the United Kingdom. However, the surname Colford and its variants (such as Colver or Coulver) are believed to have spread to many other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
In conclusion, the last name Colford is of English origin and translates to "coal river crossing". It was originally associated with major landowners, and today it is found in many other countries throughout the world.
Order DNA origin analysisColford: Where does the name Colford come from?
The last name Colford is most commonly found in Canada and the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, over 13,000 people in the US have the name Colford. In Canada, over 1,500 people have this surname.
The Colford family originated in Scotland during the medieval period. The name was first recorded in Ayrshire in 1296, in the form of Colford de Wakefoull (the forerunner of Colford). The family was given a baronetcy in 1703, and acquired estates at Auchentiber Castle near the town of Beith in North Ayrshire.
The popularity of the surname in North America today is likely due to the immigration of the Colfords from Scotland to Canada and the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period, a significant number of Scots flocked to live in the British colonies in search of better opportunities. The majority of the Colfords migrated to Canada's maritime provinces. In the US, they settled mainly in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia.
Today, the Colfords have spread out through the US and Canada and there are many branches of the family scattered across both countries.
Variations of the surname Colford
The spelling and variants of the surname Colford can vary greatly depending on the language and the culture of origin. As a result, this surname has been documented in numerous forms, such as: Colford, Collford, Colvar, Kalford, Kalfort, Kevford, Colvard, Cofort, Catchford, Causford, and Cowford. It is also sometimes written as Kolfort, Cowford, Kaford, Caulford, Caldford, and Colvard.
The spelling and variants of Colford are mainly used in English, Dutch, German, and Jewish contexts. For instance, Colford is the most commonly used spelling of this surname in English; however, it can also be seen as Collford, Colvard, Cowford, Cofort, and Catchford. In Dutch, the surname is spelled as Kaford, Kalfort or Kalford, while in German it is seen as Kolfort and in Jewish as Kolport.
Colford is an English and Scottish surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English elements "Cella" meaning "cellar" and "ford" meaning "ford". It is believed to have originally been an occupational name for someone who worked as a cellar worker or keeper.
Famous people with the name Colford
- Suzy Colford: Canadian actress, best known for her roles in the television series 21 Jump Street and the X-Files.
- Seth Colford: Film and TV production designer known for his work in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, The Invention of Lying and High Strung: Free Dance
- Tyra Colford: American beauty pageant titleholder who won the title of Miss America 2019.
- Thomas Colford: Boatswain who was aboard the HMS Herring in 1799, who was a survivor of the gunpowder explosion which killed two thirds of the crew.
- Lila Colford: Scottish-American figure skater won the silver medal in the 1976 Winter Olympics.
- Nicholas Colford: American television writer and producer, best known for his work on the hit series The Shield and Sons of Anarchy.
- Bob Colford: Canadian ice hockey player, best known as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1928-1937.
- Abigail Colford: Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard from 2015 to 2016.
- Paul Colford: American journalist and editor, best known for his years as a Media Editor at the Associated Press.
- Emma Colford: British alpine skier, who represented Great Britain at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.