Erford
A masculine name of Anglo-Saxon origin meaning "wanderer from the ford".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Erford. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Erford today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Erford births was 1920 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Erford. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Erford. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1920
7 babies that year
Average age
-
1920 SSA rank
#3,600
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Erford: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Erford from the 1910s through to the 1920s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 7 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Erford 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 Erford during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Erford
The given name Erford finds its origins in the Germanic languages, particularly in Old English and Old Norse. It is believed to have emerged around the 8th or 9th century, during the early medieval period.
Erford is derived from the Old English words "eofor" or "eafor," meaning "wild boar," and "ford," referring to a shallow river crossing or a ford. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname for someone who lived near a ford frequented by wild boars or someone known for their strength and courage, likened to the fierceness of a wild boar.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Erford can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Evorford" and "Efrord," suggesting its widespread use during the Norman period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Erford. One of the earliest known was Erford the Huntsman, a legendary figure from the 10th century, renowned for his exceptional hunting skills and his expertise in tracking wild boars. He was said to have served at the court of King Canute the Great, the Danish king who ruled over England in the 11th century.
Another significant bearer of the name was Sir Erford Willoughby (c. 1320 - 1382), an English knight and landowner who fought alongside Edward III in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was known for his bravery and military prowess on the battlefield.
In the 15th century, Erford Spenser (c. 1450 - 1512) was a prominent English scholar and philosopher, known for his writings on ethics and moral philosophy. He served as a tutor to the children of influential noble families and was highly regarded for his intellect and wisdom.
During the Renaissance period, Erford Montague (1568 - 1642) was an English playwright and poet, whose works were performed at the Globe Theatre in London. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and contributed to the flourishing of English literature during the Elizabethan era.
In the 18th century, Erford Beaumont (1712 - 1786) was a celebrated English architect, known for his innovative designs and influential works, including the construction of several prominent buildings in London and other parts of England.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Erford throughout history, each contributing to their respective fields and leaving a lasting legacy.
People
Erford + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Erford as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Erford: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Erford?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Erford 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 - US residents.
Is Erford a common name?
We classify Erford as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Erford most popular?
The single biggest year for Erford was 1920, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Erford is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Erford in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Erford a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Erford 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.
Is Erford still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Erford in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Erford can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Erford?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.