NameCensus.

UK surname

Axford

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "Ford for oxen."

In the 1881 census there were 732 people recorded with the Axford surname, ranking it #4,995 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,032, ranked #5,656, down from #4,995 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and East and West Lavington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Cornwall and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Axford is 1,109 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.0%.

1881 census count

732

Ranked #4,995

Modern count

1,032

2016, ranked #5,656

Peak year

2000

1,109 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Axford had 732 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,995 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,032 in 2016, ranked #5,656.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 990 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Axford surname distribution map

The map shows where the Axford surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Axford surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Axford over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 565 #4,492
1861 historical 360 #7,095
1881 historical 732 #4,995
1891 historical 727 #5,445
1901 historical 918 #5,069
1911 historical 990 #4,576
1997 modern 1,053 #5,260
1998 modern 1,088 #5,307
1999 modern 1,095 #5,299
2000 modern 1,109 #5,236
2001 modern 1,083 #5,241
2002 modern 1,088 #5,317
2003 modern 1,060 #5,339
2004 modern 1,067 #5,317
2005 modern 1,017 #5,473
2006 modern 1,017 #5,482
2007 modern 1,031 #5,472
2008 modern 1,036 #5,486
2009 modern 1,042 #5,590
2010 modern 1,055 #5,632
2011 modern 1,033 #5,668
2012 modern 1,043 #5,527
2013 modern 1,046 #5,629
2014 modern 1,044 #5,658
2015 modern 1,036 #5,647
2016 modern 1,032 #5,656

Geography

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Where Axfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, East and West Lavington and Sherrington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Cornwall, Wiltshire and Cheltenham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 London parishes London 3
4 East and West Lavington Wiltshire
5 Sherrington Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 008 Torridge
2 Torridge 009 Torridge
3 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
4 Wiltshire 015 Wiltshire
5 Cheltenham 012 Cheltenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Axford

These lists show first names that appear often with the Axford surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Axford

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Axford, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Axford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Axford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Axford is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Axford is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Axford falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Axford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Axford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Axford

The surname Axford originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the village of Axford in Wiltshire, which was recorded as "Axaford" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "æsc" meaning ash tree, and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Axford can be found in the Feet of Fines for Wiltshire, dated 1195, where a certain Richard de Axford is mentioned. This suggests that the surname was already well-established in the region by that time.

In the 13th century, a John de Axford is mentioned in the Assize Rolls for Gloucestershire in 1221. This record provides evidence of the surname's spread beyond its place of origin.

During the 14th century, the surname appears in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a Walter Axford is listed. Additionally, in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1379, a Thomas Axford is recorded as a taxpayer.

One notable figure bearing the surname Axford was Sir Thomas Axford (c.1490-1558), a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire during the reign of Queen Mary I. He played an influential role in local politics and served as a Justice of the Peace for Wiltshire.

Another individual of note was John Axford (1720-1793), an English author and clergyman. He published several works on theology and religious subjects during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, a prominent Axford was Charles Axford (1830-1888), a British architect who designed numerous buildings in London, including the prestigious Knightsbridge Barracks.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Edward Axford (1862-1937) gained recognition as a successful businessman and philanthropist in the United States. He founded the Axford Brewing Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and contributed significantly to various charitable causes in the region.

Throughout its history, the surname Axford has maintained a strong presence in England, particularly in the counties of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire, where its roots can be traced back to the medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Axford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Axford surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Wiltshire leads with 177 Axfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.99x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 177 27.99x
Surrey 108 3.10x
Middlesex 84 1.17x
Devon 73 4.90x
Cornwall 56 6.92x
Somerset 47 4.08x
Hampshire 35 2.39x
Gloucestershire 25 1.78x
Angus 21 3.17x
Cheshire 15 0.95x
Durham 12 0.56x
Kent 12 0.49x
Lancashire 10 0.12x
Essex 8 0.57x
Northumberland 6 0.56x
Pembrokeshire 6 2.64x
Yorkshire 6 0.08x
Berkshire 5 0.93x
Midlothian 5 0.52x
Cumberland 4 0.65x
Dorset 3 0.64x
Brecknockshire 2 1.40x
Glamorgan 2 0.16x
Hertfordshire 2 0.41x
Monmouthshire 2 0.39x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.23x
Derbyshire 1 0.09x
Herefordshire 1 0.34x
Norfolk 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.17x
Sussex 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 35 Axfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.10x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 35 18.10x
Bermondsey 29 13.62x
Sherrington 20 5263.16x
Camberwell 16 3.50x
Swindon 16 32.62x
Dukinfield 15 20.56x
Sutcombe 14 1372.55x
Tilshead 14 1196.58x
Market Lavington 13 380.12x
Stoke Damerel 12 11.52x
Edington 11 482.46x
Steeple Ashton 11 643.27x
Warleggan 11 1964.29x
Enfield 10 21.31x
Islington London 10 1.44x
St George Hanover Square 10 7.94x
Whitchurch 10 381.68x
Fisherton De La Mere 9 1250.00x
Hulme 9 5.08x
Itchen Abbas 9 1384.62x
Lambeth 9 1.44x
Mile End Old Town London 9 5.91x
Plymouth Charles The 9 13.73x
Redruth 9 39.30x
Southwick 9 44.67x
St Vigeans 9 25.17x
Arbroath 8 36.45x
Great Cheverell 8 816.33x
Nunney 8 321.29x
West Ham 8 2.57x
Bedminster 7 6.47x
Earl Stoke 7 1044.78x
Kilkhampton 7 292.89x
Mile End New Town London 7 49.54x
St Austell 7 25.30x
Stonehouse 7 87.83x
Wylye 7 583.33x
Beckington 6 264.32x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.93x
Bradworthy 6 276.50x
Bulkington 6 1395.35x
Cramlington 6 42.67x
Holy Trinity St Mary 6 55.61x
Hornsey 6 6.64x
Lonbridge Deverill 6 270.27x
Steynton 6 81.63x
Stratton 6 136.67x
Beckenham 5 15.68x
Bradford On Avon 5 24.70x
Christchurch 5 15.73x
Gwennap 5 32.74x
Holdenhurst 5 13.01x
Holsworthy 5 119.05x
Kenwyn 5 23.62x
Lambourn 5 93.99x
Lyndhurst 5 124.69x
Newington 5 1.89x
South Leith 5 4.64x
South Newton 5 303.03x
Sutton Veney 5 280.90x
Walcot 5 8.16x
Widdecombeinthe Moor 5 251.26x
Arlecdon 4 24.43x
Bridgewater 4 12.80x
Clevedon 4 33.42x
Clifton 4 5.64x
Friern Barnet 4 25.40x
Lechlade 4 138.89x
Monifieth 4 17.09x
Portsea 4 1.39x
Rotherhithe 4 4.53x
Stapleton 4 15.04x
Twyford 4 114.29x
West Lavington 4 132.01x
Westbury 4 27.10x
Winterbourne Stoke 4 547.95x
Wrington 4 103.63x
Haswell 3 19.67x
Lewisham 3 2.31x
Pentridge 3 517.24x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Axford surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 48
Sarah 30
Elizabeth 26
Ellen 16
Eliza 13
Emma 12
Jane 12
Emily 11
Louisa 10
Martha 10
Alice 9
Ann 8
Rose 7
Caroline 6
Catherine 6
Margaret 5
Ada 4
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Hannah 4
Amy 3
Anne 3
Annie 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Lilly 3
Lydia 3
Priscilla 3
Rosa 3
Susan 3
Dinah 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Ruth 2
Bethia 1
Dorcas 1
Dorthy 1
Elizebeth 1
Wilem 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Axford surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 47
John 35
James 26
Thomas 24
Charles 17
Henry 17
George 16
Richard 15
Joseph 13
Robert 11
Albert 8
Alfred 6
Arthur 6
Walter 6
Edward 5
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
Benjamin 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Daniel 3
Herbert 3
Sidney 3
Christopher 2
Josiah 2
Peter 2
Solomon 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Worthy 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Bertie 1
Clement 1
Edwd. 1
Edwd.James 1
Edwd.Jas. 1
Enos 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Hirom 1
Mesheck 1
Noah 1
Oakley 1
Percival 1
Philip 1
Rd. 1

FAQ

Axford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Axford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 732 people were recorded with the Axford surname. That placed it at #4,995 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Axford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,032 in 2016. That gives Axford a modern rank of #5,656.

What does the Axford surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "Ford for oxen."

What does the Axford map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Axford bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.