Glenford
Of Scottish origin, a combination of "glen" (valley) and "ford" (river crossing).
Name Census estimates that about 226 living Americans carry the first name Glenford. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Glenford today is around 58 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Glenford births was 1922 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Glenford. 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.
People living today
226
~ 1 in 1,516,612 Americans
Peak year
1922
16 babies that year
Average age
58
years old
2001 SSA rank
#11,162
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Glenford: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Glenford from the 1910s through to the 2000s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 113 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
Glenford 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 Glenford during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Glenfords live
Origin
Meaning and history of Glenford
The name Glenford is of English origin, derived from the combination of the Old English words "glen," meaning a narrow valley or secluded place, and "ford," referring to a shallow place where a river or stream can be crossed. This name is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Glenford can be traced back to medieval England, where it was commonly used to identify individuals residing near or associated with a particular glen or ford. It is possible that this name may have gained popularity among those living in rural or countryside areas, reflecting the geographic features of their surroundings.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Glenford was Sir Glenford de Burgh, a Norman knight who lived during the 12th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Henry II and participated in several military campaigns during the Angevin period.
In the 14th century, a notable figure named Glenford Chaucer, believed to be a distant relative of the renowned poet Geoffrey Chaucer, was recorded as a landowner and prominent member of the gentry in Kent, England.
During the Renaissance period, Glenford Marlowe, an English playwright and contemporary of William Shakespeare, gained recognition for his contributions to the Elizabethan theatre. He was born in 1564 and is known for his plays, including "Doctor Faustus" and "The Jew of Malta."
In the 18th century, Glenford Wordsworth, a British poet and brother of the renowned William Wordsworth, was born in 1770. Although his literary works were overshadowed by his sibling's fame, he was a respected figure in the Lake Poets circle and contributed to the Romantic literary movement.
Another noteworthy individual with the name Glenford was Sir Glenford Stephenson, a British engineer and inventor who lived from 1819 to 1892. He made significant contributions to the development of early railway systems and is credited with designing and constructing several important railway bridges and tunnels in the United Kingdom.
While the name Glenford has ancient roots and a rich history, it has remained relatively uncommon compared to other English names. Nevertheless, its unique blend of geographic and natural elements has endured over the centuries, reflecting the enduring connection between names and the landscapes that shaped them.
People
Glenford + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Glenford as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Glenford: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Glenford?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 226 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Glenford 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 1,516,612 US residents.
Is Glenford a common name?
We classify Glenford as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 487 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Glenford most popular?
The single biggest year for Glenford was 1922, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Glenford is about 58 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Glenford a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Glenford 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.