NameCensus.

UK surname

Ranford

A surname derived from a place name, likely "Ranford" in Hampshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 175 people recorded with the Ranford surname, ranking it #13,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 449, ranked #10,816, up from #13,982 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, London parishes and Elkstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, Forest of Dean and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ranford is 487 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 156.6%.

1881 census count

175

Ranked #13,982

Modern count

449

2016, ranked #10,816

Peak year

2011

487 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ranford had 175 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,982 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 449 in 2016, ranked #10,816.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 381 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ranford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ranford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ranford 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 119 #15,247
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 175 #13,982
1891 historical 282 #11,597
1901 historical 353 #10,364
1911 historical 381 #9,635
1997 modern 448 #10,113
1998 modern 468 #10,098
1999 modern 479 #9,987
2000 modern 471 #10,073
2001 modern 458 #10,098
2002 modern 469 #10,105
2003 modern 458 #10,136
2004 modern 459 #10,137
2005 modern 466 #9,935
2006 modern 472 #9,892
2007 modern 479 #9,873
2008 modern 475 #10,029
2009 modern 470 #10,324
2010 modern 478 #10,392
2011 modern 487 #10,155
2012 modern 460 #10,498
2013 modern 455 #10,743
2014 modern 450 #10,902
2015 modern 451 #10,801
2016 modern 449 #10,816

Geography

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Where Ranfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, London parishes, Elkstone, Claines (pt), Warndon, Hinlip and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Walsall, Forest of Dean and West Devon. 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 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Elkstone Gloucestershire
4 Claines (pt), Warndon, Hinlip Worcestershire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 017 Walsall
2 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
3 Walsall 003 Walsall
4 Walsall 021 Walsall
5 West Devon 001 West Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ranford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ranford

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ranford is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ranford is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ranford 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 Ranford 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 Ranford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ranford

The surname RANFORD is of English origin, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to have originated from a combination of the Old English words "rand" meaning border or boundary, and "ford" referring to a shallow river crossing.

This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who lived near the border or boundary of a settlement with a nearby ford or river crossing. It is likely that the earliest bearers of this surname resided in the borderlands or frontier regions of England during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the RANFORD surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from the year 1273, which lists a Richard de Randeford. This indicates that variations of the name, such as Randeford or Randford, were in use during that time.

In the 14th century, the RANFORD name appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a William Randeford was listed. Additionally, the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1379 mention a Thomas Randford, further solidifying the presence of the surname during this period.

Throughout the centuries, the RANFORD surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Sir William Ranford (1545-1622), a prominent English judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another was John Ranford (1655-1737), a respected English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Hittisleigh in Devon.

In the 18th century, the RANFORD name gained further recognition with the birth of William Ranford (1734-1816), a renowned English engraver and painter who was best known for his intricate engravings of historical events and landscapes.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Henry Ranford (1805-1876), a distinguished English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Waterloo Road.

More recently, the RANFORD surname has been carried by individuals such as William Ranford (1901-1981), a highly respected English cricketer who played for Somerset County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.

While the RANFORD surname may have evolved slightly in spelling over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the borderlands and river crossings of medieval England, reflecting the geographic influences that shaped many English surnames during that era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ranford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ranford 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. Worcestershire leads with 67 Ranfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.41x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 67 30.41x
Warwickshire 32 7.52x
Gloucestershire 19 5.74x
Surrey 19 2.31x
Staffordshire 13 2.28x
Herefordshire 8 11.56x
Kent 5 0.87x
Lancashire 3 0.15x
Shropshire 3 2.06x
Denbighshire 2 3.14x
Middlesex 2 0.12x

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 Ranfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.04x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 27 19.04x
Claines 16 264.46x
Elklstone 10 7142.86x
Worcester All Sts 10 781.25x
Worcester St Clement 10 714.29x
Handsworth 9 64.10x
Worcester St Peter 9 215.83x
Bermondsey 8 15.92x
Camberwell 7 6.49x
Great Malvern 5 108.70x
Lewisham 5 16.29x
Martley 5 793.65x
Aston 4 3.41x
Cradley 4 396.04x
Worcester St John 4 152.09x
Acton Beauchamp 3 2500.00x
Bishops Frome 3 714.29x
Coberley 3 1578.95x
Cheltenham 2 7.83x
Croydon 2 4.38x
Hornsey 2 9.37x
Manchester 2 2.22x
Shrewsbury St Chad 2 39.06x
Southwark Christchurch 2 25.28x
Stapleton 2 31.85x
Tettenhall 2 57.47x
Westbury On Severn East 2 26.74x
Bersham 1 36.76x
Burton Extra 1 30.58x
Caldecote 1 1666.67x
Everton 1 1.57x
Evesham All Sts 1 97.09x
Llanrwst 1 45.25x
Pencombe 1 666.67x
Sedgley 1 4.73x
Shelsley Beauchamp 1 588.24x
Stanton Lacy 1 79.37x
Whistones 1 62.50x
Wichenford 1 454.55x
Worcester College 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Eliza 6
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 6
Ann 4
Louisa 4
Beatrice 3
Hannah 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Maud 2
Rose 2
Amy 1
Anbella 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Elenor 1
Elizth. 1
Emely 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Florry 1
Francis 1
Helen 1
Hephizbah 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Livinia 1
Maria 1
Ruth 1
Selina 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 9
Thomas 7
Samuel 6
Edward 5
James 5
Charles 4
Henry 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
George 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Joseph 2
Albert 1
Albt.Edwd. 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
Eli 1
Eneas 1
Fergus 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Herman 1
Horace 1
Issac 1
Jessy 1
Josh. 1
Josiah 1
Lawrence 1
Louis 1
Roger 1
Thos. 1
Vincent 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Ranford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ranford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 175 people were recorded with the Ranford surname. That placed it at #13,982 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ranford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 449 in 2016. That gives Ranford a modern rank of #10,816.

What does the Ranford surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, likely "Ranford" in Hampshire, England.

What does the Ranford map show?

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