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

Milford, 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 Milford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Milford in America

Milford is the 10265th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Milford surname appeared 3,140 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 Milford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Milford 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 Milford

The surname Milford is of English origin and dates back to the 11th century. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Milford, which means 'mill ford' or a ford by a mill. The name is found in various counties across England, including Derbyshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, and Staffordshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Milford can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Mileforde. This document was commissioned by William the Conqueror and served as a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England.

During the Middle Ages, the Milford family was well-established in Derbyshire. Records from the 13th century show that Ralph de Milford held lands in the village of Milford near Belper. Another notable figure from this period was John de Milford, a prominent landowner who lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

In the 16th century, the Milford surname gained recognition through the exploits of Sir Walter Milford (c. 1520-1599), an English naval commander and explorer. He played a significant role in the exploration and colonization efforts of the Americas, and his name appears in numerous historical accounts from that era.

Another prominent individual with the surname Milford was Sir Thomas Milford (1572-1644), an English politician and Member of Parliament. He served as the High Sheriff of Staffordshire and was actively involved in local government affairs.

During the 17th century, the Milford name gained further prominence with the birth of Samuel Milford (1636-1720), an English clergyman and academic. He served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, and was known for his theological writings and sermons.

In the 18th century, one notable figure was Sir John Milford (1715-1783), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. He commanded several ships and participated in various battles against the American forces.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Milford (1820-1892), a prominent English industrialist and entrepreneur. He founded the Milford Ironworks in Derbyshire, which became a major employer in the region and contributed significantly to the local economy.

These examples illustrate the rich history and significance of the Milford surname, which has been associated with notable individuals across various fields, including exploration, politics, academia, and industry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Milford

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

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

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

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