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

Rashford, 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 Rashford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rashford in America

Rashford is the 86645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rashford surname appeared 215 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 Rashford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rashford 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 Rashford

The surname Rashford is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place called Rashford, which was likely a former settlement or hamlet near the town of Oldham in Greater Manchester. The name itself is thought to be derived from Old English words "ræsc" meaning rush or reed, and "ford" referring to a shallow river crossing.

One of the earliest known records of the name Rashford can be found in the Chartulary of Whalley Abbey, a 14th-century manuscript that mentions a family with the name living in the area around Oldham. Another early reference is in the Lancashire Inquests from the late 13th century, which includes a person named Adam de Rassheforde.

In the 16th century, there are records of a Rashford family residing in the village of Saddleworth near Oldham. One notable member was James Rashford, born in 1567, who was a yeoman farmer and landowner in the area. Around the same time, the name also appears in parish records from the nearby town of Rochdale.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Rashford name spread to other parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire, with some families settling in the towns of Bolton and Bradford. In 1623, a man named John Rashford was recorded as a freeman (a person with certain privileges and rights) in the town of Preston.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Rashford was William Rashford, born in 1677 in Oldham. He was a prominent businessman and landowner in the area. Another notable figure was Samuel Rashford, born in 1712 in Saddleworth, who was a successful merchant and served as a local magistrate.

In the 19th century, the Rashford name continued to be found in various parts of northern England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. One notable individual from this period was John Rashford, born in 1823 in Oldham, who was a renowned textile manufacturer and philanthropist.

These are just a few examples of the historical presence of the surname Rashford, which can be traced back to its origins in the Greater Manchester region of England several centuries ago. While the name may have evolved and spread over time, its roots remain firmly rooted in the local geography and language of this area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rashford

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

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

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

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