Find out how popular the first name Oxford has been for the last 10 years (from 2013 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Oxford by gender

Based on the last 10 years of data, Oxford is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 12 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Oxford.

The history of the first name Oxford

The name Oxford is an English place name derived from the words "Oxen" and "Ford". It originated as the name of the city of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England, where Oxford University is located. The city's name is thought to have been first recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle around the year 912 CE, referring to an oxen crossing point across the River Thames.

Oxford as a given name likely emerged in the Middle Ages, possibly inspired by the growing prominence of the University of Oxford, which was established in the late 11th or early 12th century. The name may have been adopted by students or scholars associated with the university, or by families living in or near the city of Oxford.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the first name Oxford was Oxford de Vere, who lived in the 13th century and was a member of the influential de Vere family in England. Another notable bearer of the name was Oxford William Comyn, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

During the Renaissance period, the name Oxford gained popularity among English families, possibly due to the university's reputation as a center of learning and intellectual pursuits. One famous Oxford from this time was Oxford Cary, an English nobleman and politician who lived from 1520 to 1588.

In the 17th century, Oxford Bradshaw was a prominent English judge and lawyer who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer from 1658 to 1659. Another noteworthy Oxford was Oxford Woodbridge, a Puritan minister and educator who lived from 1609 to 1675 and served as the first president of Harvard College in Massachusetts.

In more recent centuries, the name Oxford has continued to be used, although less frequently than in earlier times. One example is Oxford Edward Danby, an English painter who lived from 1768 to 1838 and is known for his landscape and maritime paintings.

While Oxford is primarily an English name, it has been adopted and used in other English-speaking countries as well, reflecting the global influence of the prestigious University of Oxford and the cultural significance of the city's name.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Oxford was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Oxford, please contact us.

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