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

Lightford, 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 Lightford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lightford in America

Lightford is the 77012th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lightford surname appeared 249 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Lightford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lightford 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 Lightford

The surname Lightford has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have originated from a place name, likely a town or village in the south-eastern region of the country, where the name was first documented.

One theory suggests that Lightford is derived from the Old English words "lēoht" meaning light or bright, and "ford" referring to a shallow river crossing or a ford. This combination could indicate that the name initially referred to a settlement located near a bright or well-lit ford, possibly due to its proximity to a clearing or an open area.

Another possibility is that Lightford is a variation of the place name Lightfoot, which itself is thought to have originated from the Old English words "lēoht" and "fōt" meaning a light or bright path or road. This interpretation implies that the name may have been associated with a location situated along a well-trodden, bright path or road.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Lightford can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document mentions a landowner named Aelfric Lightford, who held property in the county of Sussex.

During the medieval period, various spellings of the name were used, including Lytford, Lyghtforde, and Lightforde. These variations likely reflect regional differences in pronunciation and the evolution of the English language over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Lightford throughout history include:

1. Sir John Lightford (c. 1450 - 1522), an English knight and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in the early 16th century.

2. William Lightford (1590 - 1667), an English clergyman and author who published several religious texts in the mid-17th century.

3. Elizabeth Lightford (1720 - 1798), a prominent figure in the early American colonial era, known for her efforts in establishing educational institutions for women in Massachusetts.

4. Charles Lightford (1810 - 1876), a British explorer and naturalist who documented numerous plant and animal species during his expeditions to South America and Africa.

5. Margaret Lightford (1892 - 1982), a pioneering American architect recognized for her innovative designs and contributions to sustainable building practices in the early 20th century.

While the exact origins of the Lightford surname remain uncertain, its long history and presence across various regions and time periods highlight its enduring legacy as a distinctive English family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lightford

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

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

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

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