UK surname
A place name surname derived from a location called Samford, originating from Old English words meaning "sandy ford."
In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Samford surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #27,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Birchanger, St Pancras and Great Waldingfield, Acton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Samford is 179 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.1%.
1881 census count
46
Ranked #27,188
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1861
179 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Samford surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Samford surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 41 | #25,926 |
| 1861 | historical | 179 | #13,127 |
| 1881 | historical | 46 | #27,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 83 | #26,376 |
| 1901 | historical | 40 | #29,678 |
| 1911 | historical | 25 | #30,654 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Birchanger, St Pancras, Great Waldingfield, Acton, Sawbridgeworth and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birchanger | Hertfordshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Great Waldingfield, Acton | Suffolk |
| 4 | Sawbridgeworth | Hertfordshire |
| 5 | St Matthew Bethnal Green | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Samford surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Samford, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Samford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Samford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Samford is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Samford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Samford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Samford has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "saemere" and "ford," which together mean "the ford inhabited by a sower or seed merchant." This suggests that the name may have originated from a specific location, possibly a ford or river crossing frequented by seed traders or farmers.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a person named Samford is listed as a landowner in Gloucestershire. This document provides valuable insight into the distribution and prominence of the name during the Norman conquest of England.
In the 13th century, a Sir William Samford was noted as a prominent knight and landowner in Warwickshire. His descendants continued to hold significant estates in the region for several generations, contributing to the name's association with the local gentry.
During the 16th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, including Samforde, Samforde, and Samfurd, reflecting the fluidity of spelling conventions at the time. One notable individual from this period was John Samford (1530-1594), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London.
In the 17th century, the surname gained further recognition with the exploits of Sir Richard Samford (1602-1679), a renowned explorer and navigator. His expeditions to the West Indies and the Americas brought him considerable fame and wealth, solidifying the Samford name in the annals of British exploration.
As the British Empire expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Samford name travelled to various parts of the world. One notable figure was Admiral Sir Thomas Samford (1765-1842), a distinguished naval officer who played a crucial role in several key battles during the Napoleonic Wars.
Other notable individuals bearing the Samford surname include Sir William Samford (1810-1887), a prominent politician and colonial administrator in Australia, and Sir John Samford (1845-1921), a renowned architect who designed several iconic buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House.
Throughout its history, the surname Samford has been associated with various locations and place names in England, such as Samford in Suffolk, Samford Arundell in Somerset, and Samford Brett in Somersetshire. These place names further reinforce the surname's connection to specific geographic areas within the country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Samford surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 26 Samfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.02x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 26 | 30.02x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.14x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.77x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 3.93x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.34x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 3.74x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.94x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 3.31x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elsenham in Essex leads with 17 Samfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 24285.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Elsenham | 17 | 24285.71x |
| Broxted | 6 | 6000.00x |
| Manchester | 4 | 17.08x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 3 | 71.26x |
| Brantham | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Deptford St Paul | 2 | 17.32x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 8.54x |
| Takeley | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Battersea | 1 | 6.19x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 5.25x |
| Hertford St John | 1 | 222.22x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 2.61x |
| Roydon | 1 | 769.23x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 17.45x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.83x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Samford surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Samford surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Samford households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Labourer | 5 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Footman | 1 |
| House Maid Domestic | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housework | 1 |
| Labr (Labr) | 1 |
| Page | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Ry Fireman | 1 |
| Signal Forema (Ry) | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Samford surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Samford a modern rank of #38,264.
A place name surname derived from a location called Samford, originating from Old English words meaning "sandy ford."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Samford bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.