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

Redford, 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 Redford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Redford in America

Redford is the 10675th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Redford surname appeared 2,996 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 Redford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Redford 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 Redford

The surname Redford has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name "Redford," which means "the red ford" or "the ford across the red-colored stream." This name likely originated in areas where there were fords across rivers or streams with reddish-hued water or soil.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Redeford." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of land and property ownership in England.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Radeford," "Radford," and "Redeford," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in those times. Some records from this period include a Robert de Redeford, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1202, and a Walter de Radford, recorded in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name continued to appear in various records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, which listed a John Redford. Another notable individual from this period was John Redford (c. 1500 - c. 1547), an English composer and organist who served in the Chapel Royal under Henry VIII.

In the 16th century, the name was well-established in various regions of England, with notable bearers including John Redford (c. 1530 - 1585), an English Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs.

As the centuries passed, the Redford name spread to different parts of the British Isles and beyond. One notable figure from the 18th century was William Redford (1757 - 1833), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London.

In the 19th century, the Redford surname gained prominence with individuals such as John Redford (1804 - 1861), an English artist and engraver, and William Redford (1839 - 1923), an Australian politician and member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

Throughout its history, the surname Redford has been associated with various professions and achievements, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Redford

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

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

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

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