Surname Weitherford - Meaning and Origin
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Weitherford: What does the surname Weitherford mean?
The surname Weitherford, primarily found in the United States, appears to be a variation of the English surname Weatherford which is habitational in origin, derived from a place name. These surnames were given to individuals based on the location where they lived or once lived. Specific meaning and origin of surname Weitherford is not clearly documented. However, its variant Weatherford is believed to be derived from a place so named in Buckinghamshire, England, which meant "ford at which the weather or wind was observed," based on the Old English words "weder," meaning weather and "ford," a river crossing. Over time, and with emigration and variation in spelling, the name evolved into the form Weitherford. Similar to many surnames, the actual significance for the individual bearing the name would often have been the connection to the family history or ancestral birthplace.
Order DNA origin analysisWeitherford: Where does the name Weitherford come from?
The last name Weitherford is not common today and does not appear in any of the current most common surnames in the United States. It is most likely of British origin. It may be an Anglicized version of a Gaelic or Celtic name, possibly derived from the Celtic phrase Uí Eithir, meaning "descendant of Eithir."
The earliest recorded instance of Weitherford as a surname dates to 1460, in Nottinghamshire in England, making it a relatively rare surname. It is also found in the records of individuals living in the Hampshire and Suffolk counties of England in the 15th and 16th centuries.
In modern times, the last name Weitherford is much more scarce. Most individuals with this last name appear to be concentrated in Britain. It is most likely found in England and Scotland, where 15 individuals with the last name were recorded in 2020. Additionally, 3 individuals with this last name appear to be living in the United States, according to the US Census Bureau.
It is impossible to know how much the last name has spread in modern times due to its relatively lower rate of occurrences within common genealogical records. However, given its lower frequency in the modern population, it appears that the last name Weitherford is a rarity today.
Variations of the surname Weitherford
Weitherford is an English surname derived from the pre-7th century Anglo-Saxon name Wiðer-ford, which means 'ford by a willow tree'. The variants of the surname are Weatherford, Wetherell, Weatheford, Wheatherford, Wetheralf, Wetherhall, and Weatherhall. It is also known as Wetherel and Weatherly in Middle English.
In its earliest recorded usage during the 13th century, the spelling of the surname was typically Wethorford. From here, many variants of spelling developed over the years — including, Weatherforth in the early 19th century, and Weetheforthe shortly after this.
Variations of the surname have also been found in Scotland and Ireland. In Scotland, the name is shared with some families who are of Ulster-Scots heritage, and the variant spelling Witherford (an anglicised form of the Scottish name Wiðerfurd) is also found in Co Donegal.
In Ireland, various forms of the name are associated with both native Irish and also northern families of Scottish descent. The variant form weatherford is most common in the Dromore area of Co Down, while other variants of Weatherford are found in Belfast and Co Down.
No matter the variant or spelling, all of these surnames ultimately stem from the same origin and all have its own unique history attached to them.
Famous people with the name Weitherford
- Johnny Weatherford, former professional American football player
- Alan Weatherford, former professional American football offensive tackle
- Mark Weatherford, former Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Danielle Weatherford, American author and motivational speaker
- Zola Weatherford, retired Major General in the United States Air Force
- Ryan Weatherford, former professional American football running back
- Taylor Weatherford, American book author
- Joshua Weatherford, American politician
- Toby Weatherford, former professional American football quarterback
- Christopher Weatherford, American producer and songwriter