Surname Retherford - Meaning and Origin
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Retherford: What does the surname Retherford mean?
While there is not a comprehensive definition for the surname Retherford in commonly available sources, it is known that Retherford has English origins as it is an English variant of the surname "Ratherford." This may suggest that Retherford is a toponymic surname, derived from a place name, such as a town or a village, and was likely used to denote someone coming from that place. It is also possible that Retherford could have been originally used to identify individuals living near a specific geographic feature, such as a "ford" or river crossing, although the "rether" component's meaning is unclear. Like many surnames, the exact meaning can be difficult to trace due to the evolution of language and migration of families.
Order DNA origin analysisRetherford: Where does the name Retherford come from?
The last name Retherford is an English surname. It is more commonly found in the United States than in the United Kingdom, but is found in both countries.
In the United States, the Retherford surname has been mainly found in the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachia regions, with concentrations in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. It has also been found in the Midwestern states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The name is most common in Ohio, where it ranked 1,490th in population in the 2000 U.S. Census.
In the United Kingdom, the Retherford surname is found mainly in the northwest, particularly in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cumbria. The name is more rare than in the United States, but is still present in those areas in the 21st century.
Overall, the Retherford surname is not uncommon. It is found in the United States and United Kingdom, particularly in certain regions. It is more common in the United States (particularly in Ohio) than the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Retherford
The surname Retherford is known to have various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. For example, Retherford can also be spelled as Retherfurd, Retherforde, Retherforth, Retherfurde, Retherfurds and Rederford. In some cases, the surname can also be spelled as Redferd, Redforth, Redford, Redfurth, Redforthe and Redfurt.
Other surnames of the same origin include Reeder, Spear, Reade, Redding, Reede, Reddening, Reddish, Redish, Reithel, Ratliff, Reatherford, Rothell, Rothwell, Rathwell and Rathel.
The spelling of the surname Retherford is derived from the Old English root “raedan” which means “to counsel, advise, judge, or act as leader”. In addition, “ferd” is Old English for “person”. Thus, Retherford literally means “counselor or leader of a group of people”.
The surname Retherford is an occupational or location-based surname. It originated in England during the 14th century and eventually spread to the United States. Today, Retherford is a fairly common surname. It is one of the top 600 surnames in the United States and can be found in traces all across the country.
Famous people with the name Retherford
- Paige Rohrer Retherford: American freestyle wrestler and world champion in the 68 kg category.
- Doug Retherford: former Major League Baseball catcher.
- Jessie Retherford: Canadian Olympic swimmer from Beijing 2008.
- Thomas Retherford: American painter of impressionist and post-impressionist landscapes.
- Hybrion Retherford: American U.S Air Force fighter pilot and World War II veteran.
- Hiram Retherford: American letter carrier, employe of the US Postal Service for 51 years, and recipient of the Postmaster General Award of Excellence.
- Lawrence Retherford: Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 95th District from 1975 to 1983.
- Leon Retherford: American college athlete competing in football, track and field, and basketball.
- Homer Retherford: Seattle rock musician from the 1960s. He was a member of many northwest rock bands, most notably the Frantics.
- Harold Retherford: U.S. Olympian in track and field competing in the 1948 London Games and 1952 Helsinki Games.