Surname Staford - Meaning and Origin
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Staford: What does the surname Staford mean?
Staford is an English surname of locational origin, specifically deriving from Stafford, a county town of Staffordshire, in England. The place name and, by extension, the surname signify 'ford by a landing place or a wharf,' from Old English 'stæð' (landing place) and 'ford' (river crossing). Therefore, it could refer to families or individuals dwelling near a river crossing used for loading or unloading boats. The name was mediated through the Normans after the Norman Conquest in 1066, and different spelling variations, including Stafford, Stefard, and Staford, have emerged throughout history. Like many surnames, Staford likely started being used for practical reasons, such as distinguishing individuals with the same given name or marking geographical origin, occupation, or patronage. A notable bearer of a variation of this surname is Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham during the reign of King Henry VIII. However, note that the use and meaning of surnames can change over time and differ between regions and families, hence this interpretation may not apply to all bearers of the surname Staford.
Order DNA origin analysisStaford: Where does the name Staford come from?
The last name Stafford is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is believed to be of English origin, with a mean population density of just 12 persons per square mile. It is likely that the name first arrived in the UK from Normandy, France following the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Throughout history, the Stafford name has been strongly associated with Staffordshire, a county in the West Midlands of England, as well as Staffordshire University. Today, the most commonly found places where the Stafford surname is prevalent are Staffordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Warwickshire.
In the UK, the population of Stafford’s has grown to over 27,225 people as of 2019. It is also present in other countries such as Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
In the United States, the Stafford name can be found in almost every state. Some of the states with the highest population of Stafford residents include North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, Florida, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri and Pennsylvania. The Stewart surname is also common in the United States and is often used interchangeably with Stafford.
According to the World Names Profiler, the last name Stafford is found in 11 countries worldwide, ranging from the United Kingdom to Canada, the United States, Jamaica, Australia and New Zealand. In conclusion, it is evident that the Stafford surname is still a common occurrence in the English speaking world.
Variations of the surname Staford
The surname Staford is derived from Old English and it refers to a person who comes from a place called Stafford. There are various variants and spellings of the surname, including Stafford, Stafferd, Stafor, Stapford, Staford, Stafored, and stashford.
The surname can also appear as de Stafford, Stafforde, and lake-Stafford. Common surnames of the same origin include Stafordshire, Staforfolk, Stafordson, Staforelli, Stafordog, and Staford-Smyth.
The surname Stafford is one of the most prevalent surnames in the English-speaking world and in the United Kingdom, it is the 52nd most common surname in the United Kingdom as of 2020. It is more common in England, where it is the 32nd most common surname.
In the United States, the surname Staford is the 778th most common surname as of 2020, with approximately 59,482 people having the surname in the United States.
In Scotland, the name Staford is also significant as it is the 67th most common surname in Scotland. Around 2,286 people hold the name in Scotland.
In Ireland, the name is also popular, and it appears as Stafford and Staford. The name is the 617th most common surname in Ireland with around 420 people holding the surname, making it a much rarer surname here.
Famous people with the name Staford
- Tom Stafford: Tom Stafford is a two-time American astronaut, a lieutenant general in the U.S. Air Force, and a former Deputy Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He was also the commander of both Gemini 6 and Apollo 10 missions.
- Peter G. Stafford: Peter G. Stafford is an American astrophysicist, space scientist, and author of several books on space exploration. He was a scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a professor of astrophysics at Stanford University.
- John Stafford: John Stafford was an English composer and organist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. He wrote church music, including commissions for Queen Elizabeth I.
- Steve Stafford: Steve Stafford is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He has produced Grammy Award-winning albums from various artists including Ry Cooder, Faith Hill, and John Legend.
- Earl Stafford: Earl Stafford is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist. He has founded several businesses and is the founder and chairman of The Stafford Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the less fortunate and alleviating poverty.
- Bobby Stafford: Bobby Stafford is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He has appeared on several television shows such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Last Man on Earth, and Parks and Recreation.
- Kirk Stafford: Kirk Stafford is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He is best known for his roles on the ABC comedy series Suburgatory, and in the Netflix series Love.