Beauford
From the French words "beau" meaning beautiful and "fort" meaning strong.
Name Census estimates that about 294 living Americans carry the first name Beauford. It is a predominantly male name (99.0% of registrations). The average person named Beauford today is around 73 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Beauford births was 1920 (38 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Beauford. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Beauford is about 73 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Beaufords were born before 1963.
People living today
294
~ 1 in 1,165,831 Americans
Peak year
1920
38 babies that year
Average age
73
years old
2020 SSA rank
#5,187
Tracked since 1905
Gender
Gender distribution for Beauford
Out of the 1,026 babies given the name Beauford since 1880, 99.0% were registered as male. The name sits firmly on the male side of the spectrum, with only a handful of female registrations across the entire dataset.
Beauford as a male name
- Ranked #10,759 in 2020
- 6 male births in 2020
- Peak: 1934 (34 births)
Beauford as a female name
- Ranked #5,187 in 1921
- 5 female births in 1921
- Peak: 1920 (5 births)
Popularity
Beauford: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Beauford from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 295 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Beauford by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Beauford during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Beaufords live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina recorded the most babies named Beauford, while Oklahoma, Georgia, South Carolina recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 21 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Beauford
The given name Beauford has its origins in the Old French language, derived from the combination of the words "beau" meaning "beautiful" and "fort" meaning "strong" or "fortified." This name emerged during the Middle Ages, particularly in France and regions influenced by French culture.
One of the earliest known historical references to the name Beauford can be found in medieval French literature and records. It was commonly used as a surname or place name before gaining popularity as a given name. The name likely reflected a person's admiration for physical strength and attractiveness, qualities that were highly valued during that time period.
The first recorded use of Beauford as a given name dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various French chronicles and documents. One notable individual with this name was Beauford de Villiers, a French knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against England in the 15th century.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Beauford. One such individual was Beauford T. Anderson (1853-1924), an American politician who served as the 17th Governor of Texas from 1899 to 1901. Another was Beauford H. Jester (1893-1949), who served as the 36th Governor of Texas from 1947 to 1949.
In the realm of literature, Beauford Delaney (1901-1979) was an influential African American painter and writer associated with the Harlem Renaissance. His works captured the vibrancy and spirit of African American culture during that era.
In the field of sports, Beauford "Buck" Buchanan (1940-1992) was an American professional football player who excelled as a defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
Beauford "Beau" Stephenson (1914-1998) was an American actor and stuntman who appeared in numerous Western films and television shows throughout the mid-20th century, often portraying rugged characters.
These examples demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who have carried the name Beauford, reflecting its enduring presence across various historical periods and cultural contexts.
People
Beauford + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Beauford as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Beauford: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Beauford?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 294 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Beauford going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,165,831 US residents.
Is Beauford a common name?
We classify Beauford as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,026 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Beauford most popular?
The single biggest year for Beauford was 1920, when 38 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Beauford is about 73 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Beauford a male name?
Yes, 99.0% of people registered as Beauford in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.