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

Sanford, 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 Sanford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sanford in America

Sanford is the 957th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sanford surname appeared 36,312 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname Sanford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sanford 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 Sanford

The surname Sanford has its origins in England, tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "sand" and "ford," referring to a sandy ford or a crossing point over a sandy river or stream. The name was likely initially given to someone who lived near such a location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sanforde." This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in England. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including Sandford, Sandfort, and Sanforde.

In the 13th century, records mention a John de Sanford, who was a prominent landowner in Oxfordshire. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Sanford, a 14th-century knight who served under Edward III during the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453). His descendants continued to hold lands in Worcestershire for several generations.

During the 16th century, the Sanfords established themselves as a prominent family in Essex. Richard Sanford (1546-1607) was a well-known lawyer and Member of Parliament for the borough of Woodbridge in Suffolk. His son, John Sanford (1605-1653), was a Puritan minister who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1631 and became one of the founders of Milford, Connecticut.

Another distinguished bearer of the name was Edward Sanford (1590-1676), an English landowner and politician who served as a member of the Long Parliament during the English Civil War. He was a staunch supporter of Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 18th century, Edward Sanford (1721-1789) was a prominent American merchant and politician from Connecticut. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and was actively involved in the American Revolutionary War.

Throughout history, the Sanford surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including authors, artists, politicians, and military figures. The name has maintained a strong presence in England, as well as in the United States, where many Sanfords settled during the colonial era and subsequent waves of immigration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sanford

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

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

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

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