Surname Tilford - Meaning and Origin
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Tilford: What does the surname Tilford mean?
Tilford is an English surname that is said to have geographical origins. It is derived from a place name in Surrey, England called "Tilford". The name Tilford itself is thought to be derived from the Old English words "til" meaning advantageous or good, and "ford" a shallow part of a river or stream that can be crossed by wading, driving, or riding. Thus, the overarching meaning of Tilford can be interpreted as "advantageous or good crossing", likely a reference to the residents who lived near a crucial river crossing point. However, like many surnames, the exact origins and translations can vary and are sometimes subject to debate among genealogy experts. As with many other surnames, there are several variations in spelling, including Tilforde, Tylford, and others. Today, many people around the world, particularly in the United States, Canada, and England, share the surname Tilford.
Order DNA origin analysisTilford: Where does the name Tilford come from?
The last name Tilford is found in countries all over the world. Although its precise origination is unknown, it is believed to be an English surname, derived from a combination of two Old English words – ‘Til’ and ‘ford’. ‘Til’ meaning a ‘clearing’ and ‘ford, meaning a ‘ford’ in a river.
Today, the last name Tilford is particularly common in the United States, where it is found in all 50 states. In fact, it is one of the more popular Irish surnames in the US, and can often be found ranking in the top 50 most frequently used family names. Tilford can also be seen in significant numbers throughout Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, as well as in a number of other countries throughout the world, such as New Zealand, South Africa and Germany.
In terms of its meaning, the last name Tilford can be translated to mean ‘living by the crossing point’, and symbolises someone dwelling near a river ford, or a bridge that crosses a river. It is believed that the surname may have originated to distinguish a particular community or settlement near a ford.
Variations of the surname Tilford
The surname Tilford has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
For the spelling Tilford, there are variants such as Tilard, Tilward, and Tilwarde, which were all commonly used in medieval England.
In terms of surnames of the same origin, there are several that are similar yet subtly different, such as Telford, Tilforde, Tillyard, Tilforde, Tylford, and Tylford.
Regarding surnames descended from the same root, there are several that are related but slightly different in spelling, such as Telford, Tilferd, Tilfurd, Tilverd, Tilfard, Tillferd, Tillfurd, Tilferth, Tilfurth, and Tillfurth.
Additionally, there are some Irish surnames that evolved from the spelling Tilford, such as O'Tilferd, Tilfer, Tilford, Tilferd, Tileford, Tilforde, Tullifeard, and Tullifert.
All of these surnames are connected to the root spelling of Tilford and can all trace their roots back to one source.
Famous people with the name Tilford
- William Tilford: Former NCAA Basketball coach
- James Tilford: Former professional Soccer player
- Lindsay Tilford: Singer-songwriter
- Tom Tilford: American lawyer and civil rights leader
- John Tilford: Former English cricketer
- Ethel Tilford: Ex- WNBA player
- William T. Tilford: Former USAF Lt General
- George Tilford: American actor
- Ramsey Tilford: Former NFL player
- Gordon Tilford: Canadian lawyer and astronaut