UK surname
From a place where there was a ford over the River Stafford in Staffordshire.
In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Staford surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #29,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kilbirnie, Trowbridge and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Staford is 105 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.1%.
1881 census count
26
Ranked #29,911
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
105 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Staford surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Staford 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 | 35 | #27,037 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 26 | #29,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 31 | #31,820 |
| 1901 | historical | 7 | #33,435 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 9 | #37,189 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kilbirnie, Trowbridge, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Leonard Stanley and Manchester. 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 | Kilbirnie | Ayr |
| 2 | Trowbridge | Wiltshire |
| 3 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 4 | Leonard Stanley | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Staford 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 Staford, 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 Staford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Staford 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, Staford 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 Staford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Staford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Staford has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "stath" meaning bank or shore, and "ford" referring to a shallow crossing over a river. This suggests that the name originated from someone who lived near a river crossing or ford.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Stadford" and is associated with various locations in the counties of Warwickshire and Staffordshire.
During the medieval period, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Stafford, Staforde, and Staford. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name in official documents.
In the 13th century, a notable figure named Ralph de Stafford (c. 1250-1315) was a prominent English nobleman and Lord of Stafford. He played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence and was a loyal supporter of King Edward I.
Another influential figure was Edmund de Stafford (c. 1344-1419), who was the 5th Earl of Stafford and a prominent military commander during the Hundred Years' War. He fought alongside King Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
In the 16th century, Edward Stafford (c. 1499-1521), the 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was a prominent nobleman and descendant of the House of Stafford. He was executed by King Henry VIII for allegedly plotting against the throne, leading to the extinction of the male line of the Stafford family.
Other notable individuals with the surname Staford include Sir Humphrey Stafford (c. 1399-1460), a military commander during the Wars of the Roses, and William Stafford (c. 1593-1684), an English poet and satirist who was a contemporary of John Milton.
While the surname Staford has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old English words that describe a location near a river crossing or ford.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Staford 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. Lancashire leads with 7 Stafords recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 7 | 2.09x |
| Northumberland | 6 | 14.26x |
| Durham | 4 | 4.75x |
| Isle of Man | 3 | 57.14x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 1.06x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 3.61x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.60x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 2.26x |
| Merionethshire | 1 | 19.34x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.73x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wallbottle in Northumberland leads with 6 Stafords recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wallbottle | 6 | 6666.67x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 5 | 68.21x |
| Ryhope | 4 | 689.66x |
| Andreas | 3 | 2142.86x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 13.18x |
| Hawkesbury | 2 | 1052.63x |
| Everton | 1 | 9.35x |
| Llandderfel | 1 | 1000.00x |
| North Meols | 1 | 30.49x |
| Richmond | 1 | 51.81x |
| Tranmere | 1 | 43.67x |
| Whittington | 1 | 163.93x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Staford 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 Staford 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 Staford households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Coal Miner | 3 |
| Agr Lab | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Church Serv | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer's Wife | 1 |
| Managing Carder Mill (C M) | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Newsboy | 1 |
| Resident Pupil (Scholar) | 1 |
| Scholer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Staford surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Staford a modern rank of #37,967.
From a place where there was a ford over the River Stafford in Staffordshire.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Staford 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.