NameCensus.

UK surname

Banford

A habitational name derived from a location named Bamford.

In the 1881 census there were 265 people recorded with the Banford surname, ranking it #10,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 271, ranked #15,874, down from #10,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Great Malvern, Madresfield, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Hastings.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Banford is 490 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.3%.

1881 census count

265

Ranked #10,612

Modern count

271

2016, ranked #15,874

Peak year

1861

490 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Banford had 265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 271 in 2016, ranked #15,874.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 490 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Banford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Banford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Banford 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 177 #11,441
1861 historical 490 #5,330
1881 historical 265 #10,612
1891 historical 395 #8,961
1901 historical 293 #11,829
1911 historical 366 #9,936
1997 modern 252 #15,193
1998 modern 250 #15,675
1999 modern 246 #15,974
2000 modern 261 #15,314
2001 modern 259 #15,151
2002 modern 264 #15,236
2003 modern 247 #15,733
2004 modern 264 #15,156
2005 modern 249 #15,679
2006 modern 252 #15,642
2007 modern 254 #15,736
2008 modern 250 #16,065
2009 modern 260 #15,972
2010 modern 268 #15,978
2011 modern 282 #15,233
2012 modern 264 #15,904
2013 modern 271 #15,875
2014 modern 276 #15,788
2015 modern 267 #16,050
2016 modern 271 #15,874

Geography

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Where Banfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Great Malvern, Madresfield, London parishes, Lambeth, Glasgow and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Hastings and Calderwood Central. 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 Great Malvern, Madresfield Worcestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 003 Bridgend
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 028 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Hastings 002 Hastings
4 Hastings 009 Hastings
5 Calderwood Central South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Banford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Banford

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Banford, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Banford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Banford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Banford is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Banford is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Banford falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Banford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Banford

The surname Banford is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from an Old English place name, possibly a combination of the words "bæn" (meaning bone) and "ford" (referring to a shallow river crossing).

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Banford surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners and their holdings. This suggests that the Banford name was already established by the late 13th century. It is possible that the name was originally associated with a location near a ford where animal bones were found or where bone processing took place.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Banford surname appeared in various parish records and manor rolls across several counties in England, including Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. This indicates that the Banford family had spread across various regions of the country by that time.

One notable individual with the Banford surname was John Banford (c. 1530-1587), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 1585. Another early figure was William Banford (c. 1550-1620), a landowner and yeoman from Oxfordshire, whose will and probate records provide insights into the family's holdings and connections in that region.

In the 18th century, the Banford surname can be found in various baptismal records and marriage registers across England. For instance, Thomas Banford (1712-1789) was a farmer from Gloucestershire, while Elizabeth Banford (1745-1823) was born in Oxfordshire and later married into the Hawkins family.

One of the most notable individuals with the Banford surname was Sir Frederick Banford (1851-1923), a British industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Swindon. He founded the Banford Engineering Company and served as the Mayor of Swindon in 1903.

While the Banford surname is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval times. The name's origins are deeply rooted in the English landscape and the various communities where the Banford family lived and worked over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Banford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Banford 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. Warwickshire leads with 56 Banfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.69x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 56 8.69x
Middlesex 36 1.41x
Surrey 33 2.65x
Glamorgan 27 6.07x
Herefordshire 15 14.31x
Yorkshire 14 0.55x
Lanarkshire 11 1.33x
Worcestershire 10 3.00x
Staffordshire 8 0.93x
Northumberland 7 1.84x
Lancashire 6 0.20x
Northamptonshire 6 2.50x
Leicestershire 5 1.76x
Sussex 5 1.16x
Essex 4 0.79x
Gloucestershire 4 0.80x
Cardiganshire 3 4.81x
Lincolnshire 3 0.73x
Devon 2 0.38x
Hampshire 2 0.38x
Bedfordshire 1 0.76x
Brecknockshire 1 1.96x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.29x
Renfrewshire 1 0.50x
Wiltshire 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 27 Banfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.57x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 27 12.57x
Michaelstone Super Avon 26 539.42x
Aston 23 12.96x
Lambeth 13 5.83x
Barony 10 4.78x
York St Lawrence 10 378.79x
Avenbury 9 2500.00x
Great Malvern 8 114.94x
Horton 7 372.34x
Croydon 6 8.68x
Long Compton 6 983.61x
Mile End Old Town London 6 11.03x
Shoreditch London 6 5.42x
Belgrave 5 78.25x
Camberwell 5 3.06x
Hampstead London 5 12.56x
Kingswinford 5 15.96x
Spratton 5 694.44x
Aston Cum Aughton 4 193.24x
Cuckfield 4 91.95x
Hackney London 4 2.79x
Islington London 4 1.61x
West Derby 4 4.51x
West Ham 4 3.59x
Aberystwith 3 55.87x
Harborne 3 10.85x
Kingston On Thames 3 10.03x
Paddington London 3 3.19x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 5.83x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 3 52.17x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.80x
Elklstone 2 952.38x
Kensington London 2 1.41x
Marden 2 270.27x
Marldon 2 444.44x
Pencombe 2 869.57x
Portsea 2 1.95x
Sutton 2 22.20x
Upperswinford 2 70.92x
Bishops Frome 1 156.25x
Brighton 1 1.15x
Bromley London 1 1.78x
Clapham 1 3.13x
Cliviger 1 58.48x
Colwall 1 76.92x
Duntisbourne Abbotts 1 400.00x
Govan 1 0.49x
Isleworth 1 8.80x
Llywel 1 90.91x
Luton 1 4.36x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 2.34x
Newark Upon Trent 1 8.08x
Northampton St Giles 1 10.92x
Renfrew 1 15.29x
Rusholme 1 12.36x
St Giles In Fields London 1 7.97x
Stapleton 1 10.52x
Swindon 1 5.70x
Tottenham 1 2.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 13
Eliza 6
Ann 5
Edith 4
Emma 4
Hannah 4
Sarah 4
Amy 3
Annie 3
Emily 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Janet 2
Martha 2
Maud 2
Cecilia 1
Elenor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth.Jane 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Evelina 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Jane 1
Jenet 1
Julia 1
Lavinia 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Marion 1
Mirah 1
Mrs. 1
Pheobe 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 16
Thomas 12
Edward 10
James 8
Richard 7
Samuel 5
George 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
David 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Aaron 2
Albert 2
Charles 2
Henry 2
Jas. 2
Chas. 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Hy. 1
J. 1
Jervis 1
Jesse 1
Jno.A. 1
Jonathan 1
Lenord 1
Owen 1
Rueben 1
Sam 1
Sayan 1
Tom 1
Vernon 1

FAQ

Banford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Banford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 265 people were recorded with the Banford surname. That placed it at #10,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Banford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 271 in 2016. That gives Banford a modern rank of #15,874.

What does the Banford surname mean?

A habitational name derived from a location named Bamford.

What does the Banford map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Banford 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.