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

Releford, 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 Releford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Releford in America

Releford is the 25865th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Releford surname appeared 951 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 Releford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Releford 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 Releford

The surname Releford is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a place name, as was common with many English surnames. The name may be derived from a location called "Releford" or a similar spelling variation, potentially referring to a ford or crossing over a river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Releford can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire, a medieval tax record from the late 12th century. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by that time.

In the 14th century, a reference to a "John de Releford" appears in the Court Rolls of Oxfordshire, indicating the presence of individuals bearing this surname in that county as well.

Throughout the following centuries, the name appeared in various historical documents across different parts of England. One notable example is the mention of a "Richard Releford" in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from the late 15th century.

The spelling of the name has undergone some variations over time, with alternative forms such as "Raleford," "Rayleford," and "Relford" being documented in various records.

Several individuals with the surname Releford have left their mark in history. One such person was Sir John Releford (1580-1647), a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He played a significant role in the city's trade and commerce during the early 17th century.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Releford (1673-1732), an English writer and philosopher known for her works exploring the relationship between science and religion. Her treatise "The Harmony of Reason and Faith" gained recognition among scholars of her time.

In the 19th century, William Releford (1812-1887) became a respected botanist and naturalist, contributing to the study of flora in the British Isles. His extensive collection of plant specimens is housed in the Natural History Museum in London.

The name Releford has also been associated with places and landmarks. In the village of Nether Poppleton, Yorkshire, there is a historical site known as "Releford Bridge," which is believed to have derived its name from the surname.

While the name Releford may not be as common today, it remains an important part of English surname history, reflecting the country's rich heritage and the stories of those who bore this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Releford

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

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

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

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