Find out how popular the first name Winford has been for the last 36 years (from 1974 to 2009) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Winford by gender

Based on the last 36 years of data, Winford is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2009, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Winford.

The history of the first name Winford

The name Winford is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is a combination of two Old English words: "win," which means "friend," and "ford," which refers to a shallow crossing or a river ford. The name likely arose as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a river ford or was known for assisting travelers in crossing a body of water.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Winford can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as a place name, referring to villages or towns located near river fords. This suggests that the name was in use as a personal name by this time, as place names were often derived from the names of early settlers or landowners.

Throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance period, the name Winford remained relatively uncommon but was occasionally borne by individuals of note. One such person was Winford Barlow (1512-1596), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable bearer of the name was Winford Dewhurst (1648-1719), a successful merchant and landowner in Lancashire, England.

As the name Winford gained more widespread use, it began to appear in various literary works and historical records. In the early 19th century, Winford Stratton (1796-1876) was a prominent American author and educator who wrote several popular textbooks on grammar and rhetoric. Around the same time, Winford Scott Hancock (1824-1886) was a distinguished Union general during the American Civil War and later a candidate for the presidency.

In the 20th century, one of the most renowned individuals with the name Winford was Winford Lee Fletcher (1904-1986), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Winford Lee Fletcher Foundation, which supports educational and charitable initiatives in his home state of Arkansas.

Other notable figures throughout history with the first name Winford include Winford Clyde Dudgeon (1870-1949), a Canadian politician and member of the House of Commons; Winford Stephens (1907-1991), an American composer and music educator; and Winford Lemen (1919-2003), a United States Air Force general who served during World War II and the Korean War.

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 Winford was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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