Wayford
From Old English for "way crossing" or "ford across the way".
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Wayford. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Wayford today is around 87 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Wayford births was 1934 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Wayford. 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 Wayford is about 87 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Wayfords were born before 1949.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Wayford. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1934
5 babies that year
Average age
87
years old
1934 SSA rank
#4,185
Tracked since 1934
Popularity
Wayford: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Wayford 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 Wayford during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Wayford
The name Wayford is an Old English name that originated in the region of Mercia, England, during the Anglo-Saxon period, which lasted from the 5th to the 11th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "weg," meaning "way" or "path," and "ford," meaning "a shallow place where a river or stream can be crossed." Together, these words form the compound word "Wegford," which later evolved into the modern spelling of "Wayford."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wayford can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appeared in several entries, indicating that individuals bearing this name held lands and properties across various regions of the country.
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Wayford de Newbury was mentioned in the chronicles of the Abbey of Reading, where he served as a monk and scribe. His work included transcribing and preserving important religious texts, contributing to the preservation of historical records from that era.
During the 13th century, a prominent individual named Wayford Longespee gained recognition as a skilled archer and warrior. He fought alongside King Edward I in the Welsh Wars and was lauded for his bravery and skill on the battlefield.
In the 15th century, a renowned scholar and philosopher named Wayford Ockham made significant contributions to the field of logic and metaphysics. He is best known for the philosophical principle known as "Occam's Razor," which states that the simplest explanation is often the most plausible.
Another noteworthy bearer of the name Wayford was Sir Wayford Raleigh, who lived during the 16th century and served as a renowned explorer, courtier, and writer. He played a significant role in the English colonization of the Americas and is credited with introducing tobacco and potatoes to Europe.
Throughout its history, the name Wayford has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, warriors, explorers, and religious figures. While its popularity may have waxed and waned over the centuries, it remains a name deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of England.
People
Wayford + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Wayford as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Wayford: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Wayford?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Wayford 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 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Wayford a common name?
We classify Wayford as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Wayford most popular?
The single biggest year for Wayford was 1934, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Wayford is about 87 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 Wayford in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Wayford a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Wayford 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 Wayford still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Wayford 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 Wayford 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 Wayford?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.