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

Pettiford, 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 Pettiford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pettiford in America

Pettiford is the 10237th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pettiford surname appeared 3,148 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 Pettiford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pettiford 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 Pettiford

The surname Pettiford is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the counties of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, where the name was commonly found in historical records.

One of the earliest known references to the Pettiford surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a certain Roger de Petitford is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests that the name may have evolved from a place name, possibly derived from the Old English words "petit" meaning small, and "ford" referring to a shallow river crossing.

During the Middle Ages, the Pettiford family established a presence in the village of Pettiford, located near the town of Newent in Gloucestershire. This place name is likely the source of the surname, as it was common for families to adopt the names of the locations they hailed from or owned property in.

In the early 14th century, the Pettiford surname appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Herefordshire, further solidifying its presence in the region. Notable individuals from this era include John Pettiford, a landowner in the village of Pettiford, recorded in 1327.

Over the centuries, the Pettiford surname has been documented in various historical records, including parish registers, tax rolls, and legal documents. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include:

1. William Pettiford (c. 1540 - 1610), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol.
2. Thomas Pettiford (1615 - 1678), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious treatises.
3. Mary Pettiford (1674 - 1726), a renowned midwife who practiced in the county of Gloucestershire.
4. Samuel Pettiford (1711 - 1783), an influential landowner and justice of the peace in Herefordshire.
5. Elizabeth Pettiford (1790 - 1867), a philanthropist and benefactor who founded a school for underprivileged children in the village of Pettiford.

While the Pettiford surname originated in the southwest of England, it has since spread to various parts of the country and even beyond, as families migrated and established new roots. However, the name's ties to its rural origins in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire remain an integral part of its rich history and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pettiford

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

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

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

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