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

Wofford, 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 Wofford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wofford in America

Wofford is the 4011th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wofford surname appeared 8,856 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Wofford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wofford 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 Wofford

The surname Wofford has its origins in England, originating in the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "wulf" meaning wolf and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a ford where wolves were known to cross.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, with references in historical documents such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, which mention a Robert de Wlfford. The spelling variations during this time included Wulvesford, Wolvesford, and Wolford.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a census-like record of landowners and tenants. This document lists a Radulphus de Wolverford, indicating the presence of the family in this region.

The Wofford name has been linked to various places in England, including the village of Wolford in Warwickshire and the town of Wolford in Devon. These place names likely originated from the same Old English roots as the surname, further solidifying the connection to these areas.

Notable individuals bearing the Wofford surname throughout history include:

1. Sir John Wofford (c. 1420 - 1492), an English soldier and landowner who fought in the Wars of the Roses.
2. Thomas Wofford (1558 - 1636), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the Elizabethan era.
3. Elizabeth Wofford (1668 - 1734), a renowned Quaker minister and author who traveled extensively throughout the American colonies, advocating for religious tolerance and social justice.
4. Benjamin Wofford (1780 - 1850), a successful businessman and philanthropist from South Carolina who donated funds to establish Wofford College, a prestigious liberal arts institution.
5. James Wofford (1944 - ), an American Olympic equestrian and renowned horse trainer, who competed in multiple Olympic Games and won numerous medals for the United States.

While the Wofford surname may not be as common as some others, its rich history and connections to various regions of England, as well as its notable bearers, have contributed to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wofford

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

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

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

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