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

Reliford, 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 Reliford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reliford in America

Reliford is the 12745th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reliford surname appeared 2,421 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 Reliford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reliford 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 Reliford

The surname Reliford is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that may have been lost or obscured over time.

One theory suggests that the name Reliford may have originated from a combination of Old English words, such as "relie" (a stream or brook) and "ford" (a shallow crossing point over a river or stream). This would indicate that the name may have referred to a person who lived near a ford or crossing over a brook.

Another possibility is that the name Reliford is a variant spelling of the place name Redlinfield or Redlingfield, which is a village in Suffolk, England. This theory is supported by the fact that surnames often evolved from the names of places where people lived or originated.

In terms of historical references, the name Reliford does not appear to be mentioned in well-known medieval records or manuscripts, such as the Domesday Book, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Reliford can be traced back to the late 16th century, with the mention of a Thomas Reliford in parish records from Oxfordshire, England, in 1592. Another early example is John Reliford, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, around 1620.

It is worth noting that the name Reliford has undergone various spellings throughout history, including Relliford, Relyford, and Rellyford. This variation in spelling was common in the past due to inconsistent record-keeping practices and the evolution of language over time.

While the surname Reliford is relatively uncommon, there have been a few notable individuals bearing this name throughout history. One example is William Reliford (1665-1742), an English merchant and landowner from Wiltshire, who was known for his involvement in local politics and his philanthropic efforts.

Another individual of note is Sarah Reliford (1798-1876), an American pioneer and farmer who settled in Ohio and played a significant role in the early development of the region.

Additionally, John Reliford (1820-1897) was a British soldier who served in the Crimean War and was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor in the British Empire, for his bravery in the Battle of Inkerman in 1854.

Edward Reliford (1855-1921) was an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas, including churches, schools, and residential properties.

Finally, Mary Reliford (1879-1963) was an American educator and civil rights activist who advocated for equal educational opportunities for African American students in the segregated South during the early 20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reliford

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

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

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

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