NameCensus.

UK surname

Munford

From the Old English words "munn" meaning monk and "ford" meaning a river crossing, referring to someone living near a monk's ford.

In the 1881 census there were 438 people recorded with the Munford surname, ranking it #7,465 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 569, ranked #9,045, down from #7,465 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newchurch and Winfarthing. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rutland, East Northamptonshire and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Munford is 856 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.9%.

1881 census count

438

Ranked #7,465

Modern count

569

2016, ranked #9,045

Peak year

1911

856 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Munford had 438 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,465 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 569 in 2016, ranked #9,045.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 856 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Munford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Munford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Munford 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 323 #7,198
1861 historical 317 #8,031
1881 historical 438 #7,465
1891 historical 581 #6,569
1901 historical 551 #7,524
1911 historical 856 #5,182
1997 modern 662 #7,571
1998 modern 671 #7,727
1999 modern 654 #7,914
2000 modern 633 #8,101
2001 modern 630 #7,972
2002 modern 639 #8,064
2003 modern 626 #8,052
2004 modern 623 #8,109
2005 modern 615 #8,113
2006 modern 611 #8,170
2007 modern 611 #8,238
2008 modern 601 #8,406
2009 modern 612 #8,470
2010 modern 627 #8,493
2011 modern 601 #8,682
2012 modern 584 #8,773
2013 modern 599 #8,765
2014 modern 594 #8,872
2015 modern 588 #8,864
2016 modern 569 #9,045

Geography

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Where Munfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newchurch, Winfarthing and Crewkerne, Wayford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rutland, East Northamptonshire, Great Yarmouth, Bristol and Norwich. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
3 Winfarthing Norfolk
4 London parishes London 3
5 Crewkerne, Wayford Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rutland 003 Rutland
2 East Northamptonshire 001 East Northamptonshire
3 Great Yarmouth 001 Great Yarmouth
4 Bristol 042 Bristol, City of
5 Norwich 013 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Munford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Munford

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Munford, 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 Munford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Munford 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Munford is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Munford 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

Munford falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Munford 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 Munford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Munford

The surname Munford originates from England and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from a place name, possibly a combination of the Old English words "munec" meaning monk and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing or a ford. This suggests that the name may have originated from a location where monks had settled near a ford.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Munford can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled as "Moneford". This ancient document was a survey of landowners in England, providing evidence of the name's existence during that era.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Moniford" and "Muneford" in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, respectively. These records were tax rolls that documented the names of individuals who were required to pay taxes.

During the 16th century, the surname Munford was found in the parish records of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of the renowned playwright William Shakespeare. This suggests that families with this surname may have resided in or around this historic town.

Notably, Sir John Munford (1608-1668) was an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1667. He was a prominent figure in the City of London and played a role in the reconstruction efforts following the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Another notable individual was Robert Munford (1734-1823), an American lawyer, judge, and playwright from Virginia. He was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and served as a judge on the Virginia Court of Appeals.

In the 19th century, Reverend Henry Munford (1801-1857) was an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "Village Sermons" and "Church Essays".

Thomas Munford (1833-1904) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Barnabas in Pimlico and the Royal College of Physicians' building on Pall Mall.

William Munford (1812-1876) was an American lawyer and politician from Virginia who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and as a judge on the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Munford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Munford 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. Norfolk leads with 120 Munfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.18x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 120 18.18x
Devon 52 5.82x
Middlesex 50 1.16x
Somerset 40 5.79x
Surrey 31 1.48x
Hampshire 30 3.41x
Yorkshire 21 0.49x
Essex 20 2.36x
Durham 16 1.25x
Denbighshire 9 5.55x
Lancashire 8 0.16x
Cheshire 7 0.74x
Montgomeryshire 7 7.12x
Kent 5 0.34x
Cornwall 4 0.82x
Cambridgeshire 3 1.10x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.52x
Staffordshire 3 0.21x
Lincolnshire 2 0.29x
Northamptonshire 2 0.50x
Royal Navy 2 3.91x
Suffolk 2 0.38x
Warwickshire 2 0.18x
Sussex 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crewkerne in Somerset leads with 24 Munfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 326.98x.

Place Total Index
Crewkerne 24 326.98x
Cornwood 23 1345.03x
Great Yarmouth 16 29.27x
Islington London 13 3.12x
Drayton 11 1833.33x
Northwood 11 87.79x
Hellesdon 10 826.45x
Winfarthing 10 1123.60x
Barnsley 9 20.52x
Bethnal Green London 9 4.83x
Buckfastleigh 9 218.45x
East Ham 9 57.25x
Rotherhithe 9 16.97x
Albury 8 418.85x
Barking 8 32.27x
Cantley 8 2000.00x
Chard 8 95.58x
South Petherton 8 224.09x
Swaffham 8 148.98x
Taverham 8 2666.67x
Upton With Fishley 8 1025.64x
Llanidloes 7 96.02x
Roydon In Guiltcross 7 777.78x
Ryde 7 37.04x
Scarisbrick 7 118.44x
Birkenhead 6 7.94x
Brymbo 6 106.19x
Gateshead 6 6.28x
Kensington London 6 2.51x
Shildon 6 58.48x
Chelsea London 5 3.87x
Fulmodestone Cum Croxton 5 943.40x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 7.27x
Portsea 5 2.90x
Swanscombe 5 75.99x
Tiverton 5 32.49x
York St Crux 5 413.22x
Fulham London 4 6.43x
Helmsley 4 175.44x
Plympton Maurice 4 236.69x
St Allen 4 465.12x
Stokesby With Herringby 4 816.33x
Swannington 4 833.33x
Whitwell 4 634.92x
Barnes 3 33.94x
Burton Extra 3 36.10x
Carisbrooke 3 24.57x
Fersfield 3 714.29x
Hackney London 3 1.25x
Kingswood 3 526.32x
Melbourn 3 113.21x
Nottingham St Mary 3 2.00x
Plymouth Charles The 3 7.62x
Shalford 3 129.31x
St Asaph Cil Owen 3 500.00x
Tudhoe 3 26.86x
Whippingham 3 45.05x
Boston 2 9.61x
East Dereham 2 23.98x
Gorleston 2 15.06x
Lambeth 2 0.53x
Newington 2 1.26x
Northampton St Giles 2 13.00x
Royal Navy 2 4.57x
South Lynn 2 26.85x
Thetford St Cuthbert 2 83.68x
Tormoham 2 5.29x
Tottenham 2 2.93x
West Ham 2 1.07x
Wymondham 2 29.63x
York St Margaret 2 75.76x
Broadwater 1 6.02x
Bromley London 1 1.06x
Chester St Mary On Hill 1 12.30x
Hammersmith London 1 0.95x
Hampstead London 1 1.50x
Heigham 1 2.82x
Leamington Priors 1 3.76x
Norwich St Simon St Jude 1 192.31x
Norwich St Stephen 1 16.50x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 24
Thomas 22
George 16
James 14
Robert 11
Frederick 9
Samuel 9
Alfred 6
Edward 6
Henry 6
Albert 5
Frank 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
Joseph 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Sydney 2
Benjiman 1
Benjm. 1
Benjn. 1
Bertram 1
Chas. 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Ellis 1
Ernest 1
Ferdinand 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Hezekiah 1
Hilda 1
Jno. 1
Jno.J. 1
Lot 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
W. 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Robt. 1

FAQ

Munford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Munford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 438 people were recorded with the Munford surname. That placed it at #7,465 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Munford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 569 in 2016. That gives Munford a modern rank of #9,045.

What does the Munford surname mean?

From the Old English words "munn" meaning monk and "ford" meaning a river crossing, referring to someone living near a monk's ford.

What does the Munford map show?

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