Surname Strafford - Meaning and Origin
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Strafford: What does the surname Strafford mean?
The surname Strafford is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a locational name derived from places named Strafford in England. The term essentially means 'the ford by the Roman road'. It is a combination of two Old English words, 'stræt', which means ‘Roman road’, and 'ford', which implies a shallow part of a river or stream allowing one to walk or drive through. Individuals were often named after local landmarks or geographical features, either because they lived nearby or because they owned such a landmark. Therefore, someone bearing the name Strafford likely has ancestors that lived by or owned a ford on a Roman road. Over the years and generations, the spelling of such surnames has often become standardized, with multiple variants merging into the most popular form, in this case, Strafford.
Order DNA origin analysisStrafford: Where does the name Strafford come from?
The last name Strafford is a fairly uncommon name today, with a few concentrations in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia. In the United Kingdom, the name is most commonly found in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, and in the cities of Leeds and Bradford, as well as Stockport and Manchester. It is also quite common in the city of Liverpool and surrounding areas. In the United States, the name is far less common, with most occurrences found along the Eastern Seaboard, in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. The name Strafford can also be found in certain regions of Canada; particularly under French-Canadian variants such as “Strafaud” or “Strafaut”. Additionally, Strafford is also found in the outback regions of Australia. The name itself is of English origins, deriving from either Staffordshire in the West Midlands region, or from a region called Strafford Hundred, now extinct; located in Dorset in the south of England.
Variations of the surname Strafford
The surname Strafford is of English origin and it can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Stafford, Staford, and Staford. It is also a translation of the Old English "straet-ford", which refers to someone who lived near or crossed a road.
The variants and spellings of Strafford are numerous and varied. Some of the more common variants are Staford, Staffard, Stafford, Staford, Staffort, Stafton, and Stapford. Less common variants include Straford, Strafford, Strauphord, Strauphort, Strathford, Strathfort, and Strasford.
Surnames of similar origin include Straforde, Strafol, Strachford, and Strafley. In Ireland, Strafford is also an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Broin, which originated in County Tipperary.
Some of the spellings of Strafford may have been chosen to aid immigration into the United States. Optional spellings such as Staford, Staffard, and Stafton have become more popularized in the US due to their more phonetic appeal.
No matter the spelling, all of these surnames ultimately trace back to the Old English word straet-ford, which literally translates to "street-ford", and all individuals with these surnames may be proud to share a common ancestry.
Famous people with the name Strafford
- Oliver Strafford (born 2000), British actor
- Sir Thomas Strafford (1593–1641), Chief Minister to King Charles I of England
- Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1593–1641), politician and Royalister
- Amy Strafford-Wright (born 1994), British footballer
- Anthony T. Strafford (born 1950), American former professional basketball player
- Claire Strafford (born 1994), British Olympic rower
- Paul Strafford (born 1965), tennis player from Canada
- Richard Strafford (1928–1996), British Anglican bishop
- Robert Strafford (born 1975), American rower
- Annie Dye Strafford (1861–1934), American socialite and philanthropist