Find out how popular the last name Alford is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Alford.

Alford, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Alford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alford in America

Alford is the 1140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alford surname appeared 30,771 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 10 people would have the surname Alford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alford to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Alford

The surname Alford is of English origin, specifically from the counties of Lincolnshire and Somerset. It is believed to have emerged as an occupational name during the medieval period, derived from the Old English words "ald" meaning "old" and "ford" meaning "a shallow river crossing."

The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the late 12th century, with a mention of a William de Aldeforde in the county of Somerset in 1195. This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who lived near an old ford or river crossing.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Aldeford, Oldeford, and Alford, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that time. One notable historical reference is the appearance of a Roger de Aldeford in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273.

The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Alford, but it does mention several places with similar names, such as Alford in Lincolnshire and Aldford in Cheshire, suggesting that the name may have originated from these locations.

Over the centuries, the Alford surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded was Sir John Alford (c. 1310 - c. 1380), a member of the English gentry and a landowner in Somerset. Another prominent figure was Michael Alford (1587 - 1652), an English Puritan minister and author known for his work "The Admirable Life of the Renowned Dr. John Preston."

In the 18th century, Sir Samuel Alford (1756 - 1836), a British naval officer, played a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars, serving as a captain and later as a rear admiral. John Alford (1770 - 1843), an English clergyman and author, published several works on theology and philosophy, including "The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D."

In the realm of literature, Henry Alford (1810 - 1871) was a renowned English churchman, poet, and scholar. He served as the Dean of Canterbury and made significant contributions to the study of the New Testament.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the surname Alford throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and significance across various fields and eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alford

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Alford.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Alford was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Alford has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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