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

Mefford, 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 Mefford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mefford in America

Mefford is the 8501st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mefford surname appeared 3,875 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 Mefford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mefford 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 Mefford

The surname Mefford has its origins in England, tracing back to the early medieval period. Derived from the Old English words "mæg" meaning "relative" and "ford" meaning "a shallow river crossing," the name likely referred to a location where a family member or relative resided near a ford.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Mereforde" in reference to a place in Warwickshire. This suggests that the name may have originated as a locational surname, describing someone who hailed from a particular location.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Mereford," "Mereforte," and "Merreford," reflecting the fluid nature of spelling practices at the time. These variations underscore the name's connection to place names and geographical features.

Among notable historical figures bearing the Mefford surname is Sir John Mefford (c. 1455-1519), a prominent English landowner and member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another individual of note is William Mefford (1590-1662), a Puritan minister who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name continued to be associated with various locations in England, such as Mereford in Staffordshire and Merriford in Devon. This geographical dispersal highlights the mobility of families and the evolution of place names over time.

Another notable bearer of the Mefford name was Elizabeth Mefford (1675-1738), a renowned Quaker writer and minister who traveled extensively throughout the American colonies, spreading her religious teachings and advocating for social justice.

During the 18th century, the surname found its way to Scotland, where James Mefford (1712-1786), a successful merchant and landowner, established himself in Edinburgh, leaving a lasting legacy in the city's commercial and cultural spheres.

As the centuries progressed, the Mefford surname has been carried by individuals from diverse walks of life, including scholars, artists, and military personnel, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the name's history and significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mefford

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

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

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

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