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

Ledford, 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 Ledford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ledford in America

Ledford is the 1946th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ledford surname appeared 18,532 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Ledford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ledford 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 Ledford

The surname Ledford originates from England, believed to have emerged in the medieval era. It is thought to derive from the Old English words "lead" and "ford," suggesting it was initially a descriptive name referring to a location near a leaden or lead-paved ford or river crossing.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ledeford." This entry likely refers to a place name rather than a specific individual, indicating the name's roots as a locational surname.

In the 13th century, the name was recorded as "Ledforde" in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a census-like survey conducted in 1273. This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during that time.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Ledford was Robert de Ledforde, documented in the Patent Rolls of 1301 during the reign of King Edward I. This record suggests the name's transition from a place name to a hereditary surname.

Another notable early bearer was John Ledford, born around 1425 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a prominent landowner and influential figure in his local community.

During the 16th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Ledforde" and "Leddforde," reflecting the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

In the 17th century, the name Ledford gained recognition with the birth of Sir Edward Ledford (1634-1701), a prominent military commander who served under King Charles II during the English Civil War.

The 18th century saw the rise of Samuel Ledford (1738-1815), a renowned scholar and author who wrote extensively on the history and culture of the English countryside.

As the name spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the American colonies. One notable American bearer was William Ledford (1775-1853), a pioneer and early settler in the state of Tennessee.

Throughout its history, the surname Ledford has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including writers, artists, politicians, and military figures, solidifying its place in the annals of English and American history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ledford

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

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

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

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