Surname Witherford - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Witherford: What does the surname Witherford mean?
The surname Witherford is of English origin. It is a compound of two old English elements: "withy" and "ford". "Withy" refers to willow trees that were commonly found growing near water bodies. "Ford" means a shallow water crossing or a place where a river or stream could be crossed. Together, Witherford likely signifies 'the ford by the willow trees'. People bearing this surname could have had ancestors who lived near or were identified with such a geographical feature. Often, English surnames have a connection to locations, occupations, or geographical features, and they played a significant role in people's identification in the past. As with many older surnames, the spelling might vary, sometimes appearing as Witherforth or Whitherford. Keep in mind that surname origins can be complex and precise meanings may vary based on historical context and familial lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisWitherford: Where does the name Witherford come from?
The last name Witherford is not particularly common today, with only 37 people with the surname in the United States. Most of these people are listed as living in the states of North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina. It is also present in small numbers in other states and countries.
In the United Kingdom, Witherford has a particularly long and rich history. It is most commonly found in the southern and eastern counties of England, especially in Dorset, Essex, and Norfolk. In all there are nearly 1,000 Witherfords in the UK, indicating that the surname has been around for some time and may have been introduced through immigration.
In Australia, the name is quite rare, with only 14 people listed having the surname according to the 2016 census. However, it is unclear whether this is because the name is relatively new to the country, or whether it has simply not spread to a wide portion of Australia yet.
Witherford may be relatively rare today, but its ancient and distinguished history gives it a unique charm and character.
Variations of the surname Witherford
The surname Witherford is an early medieval English name of Anglo-Saxon origin. This surname is derived from the Old English words "twyider," meaning two together, and "ford," meaning a shallow river crossing. Variants of this name include Witherforde, Withereford, Withford, Whitherford and Witherfor.
Spellings of this surname have also evolved over time. During the 1600s and 1700s, spellings such as Wytherford, Wytherfords and Wydersford began to appear on different records and documents. Further variations emerged in the mid-1700s with spellings such as Widdersford, Withersford, Withersfor and Withersfords becoming more popular.
Other surnames of similar origin can be identified through the use of soundex search algorithms. For example, spellings such as Wetherford, Wetherforde and Weatherford would also produce results in such systems.
It is also worth noting that Witherford is the surname of the ancient English family from the County of Essex, whose direct male line still survives today. This family not only came to be known by the surname Witherford but also by the alternatives Withereford and Wytherford.
Famous people with the name Witherford
- Margaret Witherford: Canadian professional blues and jazz singer.
- Randal Witherford: former American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the American Basketball Association (ABA).
- William Witherford: British architect and Royal Academician.
- Murray Witherford: former English cricketer who played in one match for Worcestershire in 1887.
- Timothy Witherford: former British Olympic fencer who competed in the 1912 Stockholm Summer Games in the individual and team foil events.
- John Witherford: British film editor who won a BAFTA Award for Best Editing in 1993.
- David Witherford: British actor, writer and director who has appeared in several films and television series.
- Edward Witherford: British composer who wrote the popular Christmas carol ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’.
- Mary Witherford: American artist and sculptor who had a successful career in the 1920s.
- Katherine Witherford: British theatre director noted for her successful productions at the Royal National Theatre.