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

Lanford, 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 Lanford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lanford in America

Lanford is the 12607th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lanford surname appeared 2,455 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Lanford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lanford 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 Lanford

The surname Lanford is of English origin and has its roots in the medieval era. It is believed to have originated from a place name, likely derived from the Old English words "land" meaning land or estate, and "ford," referring to a shallow crossing or river ford.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Lanforda." This suggests that the name was associated with a specific location or settlement during the Norman conquest of England.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name was predominantly concentrated in the southern and central regions of England, particularly in counties like Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire. It is possible that the name was initially borne by individuals who lived near a ford or river crossing on a land or estate.

One notable individual bearing the surname Lanford was John Lanford, who lived in the 14th century and was mentioned in the Patent Rolls of Edward III in 1343. These rolls were official records maintained by the English Crown, indicating that the Lanford name had gained some prominence during that period.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Lanforde" and "Lainford," reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that time. One example is William Lanforde, born around 1520, who was mentioned in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwick.

The 17th century saw the emergence of a notable figure named Richard Lanford (1628-1705), a prominent merchant and landowner in the county of Oxfordshire. His wealth and influence likely contributed to the prestige of the Lanford name in that region.

Another individual of note was Sir Thomas Lanford (1675-1744), a respected military officer who served in the British Army during the War of the Spanish Succession. He was knighted for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

In the 18th century, the Lanford name gained further recognition with the birth of the renowned writer and philosopher, Samuel Lanford (1729-1797). His works on ethics and political theory earned him widespread acclaim and cemented the Lanford name in the annals of English literature.

As the centuries progressed, the Lanford surname continued to be found across various parts of England, with families bearing this name contributing to various professions and walks of life, leaving an indelible mark on the rich tapestry of English history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lanford

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

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

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

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