Surname Sandiford - Meaning and Origin

Sandiford: What does the surname Sandiford mean?

The surname Sandiford is of English origin. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is of locational origin, denoting that it was given to people who resided in or near a certain location. In this case, Sandiford is believed to have derived from the place called "Sandford" in England. The name Sandford itself comes from Old English word elements "sand" and "ford", which translate to "sandy river crossing." As with many locational surnames, it was likely first given to the lords of the manor or ownership estate or to people who moved from Sandford to another place, hence becoming identified by the name of their birthplace. Various spelling variations of the name have been found, including Sandford, Sandiford, Sandiforth, and others. Like many surnames, the interpretation and meaning of the name can also vary based on regional dialects and phonetic alterations over time.

Sandiford: Where does the name Sandiford come from?

The last name Sandiford is most commonly found today in the Caribbean Islands, particularly in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The name is believed to have originated from the island of Barbados, where many of the original Sandifords were indentured servants from Devon and Cornwall in England, brought to the Caribbean during the 17th century.

In Jamaica, Sandiford is one of the most widespread surnames. It is the 10th most common surname on the island among citizens of African descent. Sandiford is also one of the most common surnames in Trinidad and Tobago, where it appears mainly among Creole citizens. In Barbados, it is the 4th most common name among citizens of African descent. In Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, it is much less common but still present.

The name can also be found today in parts of Britain and North America, usually with first-generation immigrants of Caribbean descent, as well as in a few other countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Sandiford

The surname Sandiford (also spelled Sandiforth, Sandifurth and Sandifur) is a habitational name derived from various places in England and Germany. In England, Sandiford is a name that has occurred in Yorkshire, Devon, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Norfolk and Bedfordshire. In Germany, the name is spelled Sandifurth or Sandifur.

The earliest recording of Sandiford was in 1259 in Hertfordshire when Walter Sandiford was noted there. In 1289, Henry Sandiford was recorded in the Yorkshire Subsidy Rolls. Other recordings during the 13th and 14th centuries include John Sandford of Lancashire in 1292;William Sandiford in Derbyshire in 1619; and Robert Sandiford in Bedfordshire in 1623.

Variations of the name can include Sandiforth, Sandifurth, Sandiforth, Sandifurth, Sandiford, Sandifur, Sandersford. In addition, some surnames derived from Sandiford include Sandford, Sanford, Sanster and Samford.

The name originated from a place named Sandiford or Sandiforth which was derived from the Old English words ‘sand’ and ‘ford’. An example is the Sandiford Estate near Oxfordshire which was documented in 1392.

Significate bearers of the name Sandiford include General James Sandiford (1743-1824), British Army officer and Member of Parliament, Charles Sandifur (1823-1877), Henry Sandiford (1854-1929), English-born Canadian educator, and Whitney Sandiford (born 1985), wielder of the Trinidad and Tobago national football team.

Famous people with the name Sandiford

• Lamont Sandiford: professional wrestler
• Rudraksha Sandiford: Indian film and television actress
• Laura Sandiford: Canadian actress
• Neil Sandiford: English footballer
• Craig Sandiford: English footballer
• Christine Sandiford: British sports commentator and television presenter
• Antoine Sandiford: Trinidadian cricketer
• Andrew Sandiford: British actor and television presenter
• Sir Frank Sandiford: British chairman of Boots
• Roy Sandiford: Barbadian cricketer
• Evron Edouard Sandiford: Guyanese politician
• Adelaide Sandiford: English mountaineer and outdoor pursuits instructor
• Mark Sandiford: British sailor
• Ray Sandiford: English cricketer
• Samantha Sandiford: British writer and journalist
• Jody Sandiford: Barbadian cricketer
• Lisa Sandiford: English actress
• Caroline Sandiford: English actress and magician
• Eric Sandiford: American politician
• Michael Sandiford: Canadian folk musician and singer-songwriter

Other surnames

Sandiforth