Monford last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Monford

A locational surname derived from any of several places named Monford or Munford.

Monford, 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 Monford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Monford in America

Monford is the 102688th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Monford surname appeared 175 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 Monford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Monford 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 102688 82344 21.99%
Count 175 213 -19.59%
Proportion per 100k 0.06 0.08 -28.57%

The history of the last name Monford

The surname Monford has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated from a place name, with the prefix "Mon" derived from the Old English word "munan," meaning "to remain" or "to dwell," and the suffix "-ford" referring to a shallow river crossing or ford. This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who resided near a specific ford or river crossing.

Historical records indicate that the name Monford appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1195, where a certain Robert de Monford is mentioned. This early reference provides evidence of the name's existence during the Middle Ages. Additionally, the Monford surname has been found in various medieval manuscripts and charters, further solidifying its long-standing presence in English history.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the name Monford was Sir John Monford, a prominent knight who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. He was a distinguished military commander and played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War against France. Another notable figure was William Monford, who served as the Mayor of London in 1439.

In the 16th century, the Monford surname was associated with various locations across England, including Monford in Shropshire and Munford in Norfolk. This connection to place names further reinforces the geographical origins of the surname. During this period, variations in spelling also emerged, such as Munford, Monfort, and Mumford.

One of the most famous individuals with the Monford surname was Sir Thomas Monford (1540-1616), a prominent English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as the Sheriff of Worcestershire and played a crucial role in the administration of the county.

Another notable figure was Henry Monford (1673-1758), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Norwich and wrote several theological works. He was known for his erudition and contributions to religious literature.

Throughout the centuries, the Monford surname has been carried by numerous individuals, each leaving their mark in various fields, from military service and politics to religion and literature. While the name's origins may be rooted in a specific geographical location, its legacy has transcended boundaries and become a part of the rich tapestry of English history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Monford

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

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 Monford was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 17.14% 30
Non-Hispanic Black Only 74.86% 131
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 4.57% 8
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Monford has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 17.14% 15.49% 10.11%
Black 74.86% 77.46% -3.41%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 4.57% 4.23% 7.73%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Monford last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/monford-surname-popularity/.

"Monford last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/monford-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Monford last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/monford-surname-popularity/.

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