NameCensus.

UK surname

Offord

A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Offord in England.

In the 1881 census there were 948 people recorded with the Offord surname, ranking it #4,073 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,189, ranked #5,005, down from #4,073 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Suffolk Coastal and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Offord is 1,501 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.4%.

1881 census count

948

Ranked #4,073

Modern count

1,189

2016, ranked #5,005

Peak year

1911

1,501 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Offord had 948 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,073 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,189 in 2016, ranked #5,005.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,501 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Offord surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Offord surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Offord 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 544 #4,643
1861 historical 483 #5,407
1881 historical 948 #4,073
1891 historical 1,082 #3,898
1901 historical 1,312 #3,808
1911 historical 1,501 #3,216
1997 modern 1,304 #4,390
1998 modern 1,339 #4,440
1999 modern 1,344 #4,459
2000 modern 1,337 #4,457
2001 modern 1,308 #4,459
2002 modern 1,346 #4,446
2003 modern 1,332 #4,393
2004 modern 1,332 #4,406
2005 modern 1,263 #4,548
2006 modern 1,258 #4,572
2007 modern 1,255 #4,639
2008 modern 1,253 #4,664
2009 modern 1,283 #4,668
2010 modern 1,279 #4,771
2011 modern 1,278 #4,715
2012 modern 1,179 #4,983
2013 modern 1,213 #4,939
2014 modern 1,208 #4,988
2015 modern 1,205 #4,952
2016 modern 1,189 #5,005

Geography

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Where Offords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, St John Hackney and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Suffolk Coastal and Ipswich. 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 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 007 Mid Suffolk
2 Mid Suffolk 006 Mid Suffolk
3 Suffolk Coastal 006 Suffolk Coastal
4 Suffolk Coastal 009 Suffolk Coastal
5 Ipswich 002 Ipswich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Offord

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Offord

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Offord is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Offord is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Offord falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Offord

The surname Offord has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "ofer" meaning "over" and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing, suggesting that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a ford or crossing point over a river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like survey conducted in 1273, where it is listed as "Offord." This suggests that the name was already well-established in this region by that time.

The name is also closely associated with the village of Offord Cluny and Offord D'Arcy, both located in Cambridgeshire. These place names, which incorporate the surname, further reinforce the link between the name and the local geography.

In the 14th century, the surname is found in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1327, which mention a John de Offord. This form, using the prefix "de," was common at the time and indicated a connection to a specific place.

Over the centuries, the name has been subject to various spellings, including Offorde, Offorthe, and Offworth, reflecting the fluidity of English orthography before standardization.

Notable individuals with the surname Offord include:

1. John Offord (c. 1300-1349), an English clergyman who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1345 to 1349. 2. William Offord (c. 1390-1460), a 15th-century English Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire. 3. Thomas Offord (c. 1470-1532), a 16th-century English landowner and benefactor who endowed a school in the village of Offord Cluny. 4. Elizabeth Offord (1607-1679), an English Puritan writer and poet known for her religious works. 5. John Offord (1678-1744), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the 18th century.

While the name has endured over time, its geographical concentration suggests a strong connection to the Cambridgeshire region, where it likely originated and thrived for centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Offord families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Offord 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. Suffolk leads with 251 Offords recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.38x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 251 22.38x
Middlesex 224 2.43x
Essex 186 10.23x
Norfolk 95 6.71x
Kent 40 1.27x
Surrey 28 0.62x
Hampshire 16 0.85x
Lancashire 16 0.15x
Lincolnshire 13 0.88x
Sussex 10 0.64x
Durham 9 0.33x
Yorkshire 8 0.09x
Berkshire 7 1.01x
Berwickshire 7 6.28x
Wiltshire 6 0.74x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.86x
Derbyshire 5 0.35x
Staffordshire 4 0.13x
Cornwall 3 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.16x
Shropshire 2 0.25x
Dorset 1 0.17x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.16x
Northumberland 1 0.07x
Orkney 1 0.99x
Royal Navy 1 0.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 37 Offords recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.22x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 37 9.22x
Islington London 26 2.91x
Great Oakley 24 824.74x
Ipswich St Mathew 23 73.18x
Wyverstone 21 2530.12x
St Pancras London 20 2.70x
Hackney London 18 3.49x
Great Yarmouth 16 13.64x
St Marylebone London 16 3.25x
Tottenham 16 10.91x
Southminster 15 375.94x
Diss 13 107.08x
Bradfield 12 465.12x
Chelsea London 12 4.32x
Blundeston 11 488.89x
Culford 11 1170.21x
Heigham 11 14.48x
Poplar London 11 6.33x
Brightlingsea 10 96.25x
Coddenham 10 389.11x
Creeting All Sts 10 1052.63x
Foots Cray 10 166.39x
Maidstone 10 10.68x
Thorndon All Sts 10 497.51x
Bow London 9 7.68x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 9 42.76x
Grays Thurrock 9 53.25x
Ipswich St Clement 9 31.57x
Kensington London 9 1.76x
Lavenham 9 153.32x
Battersea 8 2.36x
Cockfield 8 272.11x
Eye 8 110.34x
Hemingstone 8 851.06x
Ipswich St Mary Key 8 274.91x
Lewisham 8 4.78x
Stifford 8 888.89x
Stoke Newington London 8 11.15x
Wardleworth 8 12.81x
Acton 7 382.51x
Bradfield St Clare 7 886.08x
Cookham 7 32.48x
Earlston 7 125.45x
Edmonton 7 9.44x
Ipswich St Margaret 7 18.39x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 7 16.47x
Mile End 7 210.84x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 7 98.45x
Rumburgh 7 619.47x
Walthamstow 7 10.70x
Barningham 6 451.13x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.50x
Camberwell 6 1.02x
Donhead St Mary 6 144.93x
Gorleston 6 21.06x
Hampstead London 6 4.18x
Leyton Low 6 16.24x
Norwich St Michael At 6 73.08x
Portsea 6 1.62x
Shire Hall Yard 6 625.00x
St George Bloomsbury 6 11.36x
Sudbury All Sts 6 175.44x
Thorpe Le Soken 6 394.74x
All Hallows Lombard 5 943.40x
Bacton 5 247.52x
Belchamp St Paul 5 224.22x
Bromley London 5 2.47x
Capel St Andrew 5 793.65x
Castle Hedingham 5 152.44x
Chawton 5 335.57x
East Ham 5 14.82x
Norwich St Giles 5 110.38x
Petersham 5 280.90x
St Luke London 5 3.39x
Stapenhill 5 23.30x
Tanfield 5 15.35x
Thorpe Morieux 5 381.68x
Hammersmith London 4 1.76x
Norwich St Martin At 4 167.36x
Norwich St Peter 4 43.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 59
John 43
George 36
Robert 34
Charles 24
James 24
Henry 18
Samuel 17
Thomas 15
Alfred 13
Frederick 13
Arthur 12
Herbert 12
Albert 9
Harry 9
Walter 9
Joseph 7
Daniel 5
Edward 5
Ernest 5
David 4
Horace 4
Benjamin 3
Chas. 3
Edgar 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Geo. 3
Jno. 3
Nathaniel 3
Robt. 3
Thos. 3
Edmund 2
Etheldread 2
Joshua 2
Major 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Wm. 2
Charlotte 1
Christer 1
F.K.C. 1
Fred. 1
Fred.G. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Isaac 1
Jas.E. 1
Jesse 1
Leonard 1

FAQ

Offord surname: questions and answers

How common was the Offord surname in 1881?

In 1881, 948 people were recorded with the Offord surname. That placed it at #4,073 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Offord surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,189 in 2016. That gives Offord a modern rank of #5,005.

What does the Offord surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Offord in England.

What does the Offord map show?

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