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

Wiford, 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 Wiford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wiford in America

Wiford is the 114424th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wiford surname appeared 153 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 Wiford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wiford 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 Wiford

The surname Wiford likely originates from England, emerging during the late medieval period. It appears to derive from Old English elements, with "Wif," an early term for a woman, and "ford," denoting a shallow crossing point in a river. This combination suggests that Wiford could have been used initially to describe a geographical feature, potentially a river crossing associated with women, or a location where women gathered.

Historical records first start to note the name Wiford in documentation from the 13th century. One of the earliest known mentions is found in a tax record from 1296, listing a Robert de Wiford residing in Norfolk. The presence of the "de" prefix indicates a likely reference to a place of origin, suggesting Robert was either from or had ties to a particular location named Wiford.

The village or area referred to as Wiford appears to no longer exist, or it might have merged with or been renamed as another locality. Place names and their spellings often evolved over centuries, leading to different forms or complete disappearance from maps and documentation.

Among notable bearers of the surname is Thomas Wiford, a minor nobleman from Essex, recorded to have participated in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. This battle marked the decisive end of the Wars of the Roses, a significant historical event in England.

Anne Wiford, born in 1592 and documented as a midwife in London, became known for her contributions to early medical practices and is mentioned in the borough's records detailing her services and household.

John Wiford, a merchant during the 17th century, is recorded in shipping logs from Bristol. Born in 1628, he was known for his trade dealings with the Caribbean, particularly in sugar and tobacco, reflecting the growing importance of global trade routes during that era.

The 18th century saw Elizabeth Wiford, a prominent figure in the Methodist movement. Born in 1745, she was a dedicated follower of John Wesley and played a significant role in spreading Methodism in rural parts of Yorkshire. Her efforts are noted in the church diaries and letters of the time.

In the early 19th century, records show William Wiford, an educator and headmaster of a grammar school in Somerset. Born in 1802, he was a proponent of educational reform and contributed writings on pedagogy that were influential in shaping modern education systems in England.

Overall, the surname Wiford encapsulates a remarkable historical journey, marked by its geographical roots, evolutionary spelling changes, and significant figures who bore the name through varied epochs of English history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wiford

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

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

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

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