NameCensus.

UK surname

Trafford

From Old English referring to an area having a ford or shallow crossing point over a stream.

In the 1881 census there were 1,184 people recorded with the Trafford surname, ranking it #3,401 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,579, ranked #3,930, down from #3,401 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Croston, Leek and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chorley, Staffordshire Moorlands and Oxford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trafford is 1,663 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.4%.

1881 census count

1,184

Ranked #3,401

Modern count

1,579

2016, ranked #3,930

Peak year

1911

1,663 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trafford had 1,184 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,401 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,579 in 2016, ranked #3,930.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,663 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Trafford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trafford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Trafford 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 712 #3,670
1861 historical 759 #3,603
1881 historical 1,184 #3,401
1891 historical 1,364 #3,183
1901 historical 1,479 #3,459
1911 historical 1,663 #2,937
1997 modern 1,446 #4,034
1998 modern 1,596 #3,851
1999 modern 1,641 #3,780
2000 modern 1,614 #3,817
2001 modern 1,600 #3,776
2002 modern 1,646 #3,740
2003 modern 1,618 #3,722
2004 modern 1,626 #3,718
2005 modern 1,576 #3,781
2006 modern 1,601 #3,731
2007 modern 1,601 #3,769
2008 modern 1,576 #3,838
2009 modern 1,627 #3,829
2010 modern 1,641 #3,869
2011 modern 1,646 #3,824
2012 modern 1,580 #3,895
2013 modern 1,628 #3,858
2014 modern 1,608 #3,922
2015 modern 1,592 #3,917
2016 modern 1,579 #3,930

Geography

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Where Traffords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Croston, Leek, London parishes, Manchester and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chorley, Staffordshire Moorlands, Oxford and Vale of White Horse. 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 Croston Lancashire
2 Leek Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chorley 007 Chorley
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 006 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Oxford 001 Oxford
5 Vale of White Horse 002 Vale of White Horse

Forenames

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First names often paired with Trafford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Trafford

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Trafford, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Trafford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Trafford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Trafford 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

Trafford is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Trafford falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Trafford

The Trafford surname originated in England, specifically in the historic county of Lancashire. It dates back to the 11th century and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The name is derived from the Old English words "trafford" or "trefort," which referred to a ford or crossing over a river or stream that had become a meeting place or trading post.

One of the earliest references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records land holdings and manors across England. The entry mentions a place called "Trafford" in Lancashire, likely the origin of the surname.

The earliest recorded individual with the Trafford surname was Radulphus de Trafford, who lived in the 12th century and was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1176. Another early bearer of the name was Thomas de Trafford, who was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246.

The Trafford family established themselves as landowners and lords of the manor in the village of Trafford, near Manchester. One notable member was Sir Edmund Trafford (1644-1719), who served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire and was involved in the Jacobite Risings in support of the Catholic King James II.

During the English Civil War, John Trafford (1612-1683) held the manors of Trafford and Whittleswick and fought on the Royalist side. His son, Sir Humphrey Trafford (1637-1719), was a prominent Catholic landowner and was involved in the Jacobite cause, supporting the claim of James II's son, the Old Pretender, to the English throne.

Another notable figure was Sir Humphrey Trafford (1808-1886), a Conservative politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire and was also a Deputy Lieutenant of the county.

The Trafford name has also been associated with various place names in Lancashire, such as Trafford Park, an industrial estate in the borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, and the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford itself, which was established in 1974.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Trafford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trafford 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. Lincolnshire leads with 312 Traffords recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.66x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 312 16.66x
Lancashire 243 1.75x
Staffordshire 159 4.02x
Oxfordshire 113 15.62x
Yorkshire 92 0.79x
Middlesex 74 0.63x
Cheshire 47 1.82x
Gloucestershire 27 1.18x
Berkshire 22 2.50x
Kent 19 0.48x
Isle of Man 15 6.89x
Worcestershire 10 0.65x
Warwickshire 9 0.30x
Northamptonshire 8 0.73x
Surrey 8 0.14x
Wiltshire 7 0.68x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.38x
Derbyshire 5 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.56x
Suffolk 4 0.28x
Hampshire 3 0.12x
Bedfordshire 2 0.33x
Norfolk 2 0.11x
Somerset 2 0.11x
Banffshire 1 0.41x
Dorset 1 0.13x
Essex 1 0.04x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.21x
Hertfordshire 1 0.12x
Leicestershire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leek Lowe in Staffordshire leads with 106 Traffords recorded in 1881 and an index of 201.44x.

Place Total Index
Leek Lowe 106 201.44x
Croston 52 724.23x
Headington 34 302.76x
Walton Le Dale 27 72.27x
Wildmore 27 1102.04x
Titteworth 24 395.39x
Eston 20 79.11x
Liverpool 20 2.37x
Hibaldstow 17 529.60x
Shotover 16 1975.31x
Horspath 15 1153.85x
Kensington London 15 2.30x
Malew 15 78.95x
Everton 14 3.16x
Louth 14 32.61x
Manchester 14 2.24x
Preston 14 3.76x
Abingdon St Helen 12 46.67x
Holy Trinity 12 4.30x
Macclesfield 12 10.44x
Snitterby 12 1090.91x
Standish With Langtree 12 70.09x
Great Grimsby 11 9.25x
Gainsborough 10 22.64x
Westbury On Severn East 10 19.25x
Bexley 9 25.47x
Scamblesby 9 616.44x
Tollerton 9 436.89x
Clee With Weelsby 8 19.51x
Clewer 8 22.21x
Dunston 8 255.59x
Skerton 8 70.11x
St Peterat Arches 8 373.83x
Tadcaster West 8 87.05x
Wellingborough 8 14.44x
West Dean 8 21.44x
Woolvercot 8 272.11x
Ashby 7 119.25x
Birmingham 7 0.71x
Doncaster 7 8.25x
Farforth Cum Maidenwell 7 1228.07x
Gawsworth 7 296.61x
Hackney London 7 1.07x
Islington London 7 0.62x
Minting 7 496.45x
North Kelsey 7 207.10x
Oxford St Clement 7 38.34x
Rainow 7 135.92x
Scunthorpe 7 83.04x
Shoreditch London 7 1.38x
St Mark Lincoln 7 175.00x
Stretford 7 9.15x
Sutton In Macclesfield 7 26.08x
Walsall Foreign 7 3.43x
Wheelton 7 112.54x
Hyde 6 7.86x
Kirkdale 6 2.57x
Lancaster 6 7.25x
Newington 6 1.39x
Oxford St Aldate 6 78.74x
Oxford St Ebbe 6 28.18x
Pennington In Leigh 6 22.50x
Revesby 6 264.32x
Rotherham 6 9.17x
Sandal Magna 6 34.94x
Scotton 6 566.04x
Sixhills 6 857.14x
Stone 6 11.86x
Sutton St Mary 6 33.88x
Swineshead 6 97.40x
Chaddesley Corbett 5 87.26x
Derby All Sts 5 32.64x
Fishtoft 5 135.87x
Kidderminster Borough 5 5.58x
Market Rasen 5 47.76x
Paddington London 5 1.16x
Pendleton In Salford 5 3.02x
Sheffield 5 1.35x
West Derby 5 1.23x
Wolverhampton 5 1.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 78
William 74
George 42
James 42
Thomas 37
Charles 27
Edward 23
Joseph 16
Richard 16
Alfred 13
Henry 12
Edwin 11
Albert 10
Ernest 10
Robert 10
Arthur 8
Walter 7
Frederick 6
Harry 6
Samuel 6
Thos. 6
Herbert 5
Anthony 4
Christopher 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Frederic 4
Fredrick 4
Tom 4
Isaac 3
Jesse 3
Benjamin 2
Cyril 2
Elias 2
Elijah 2
Emmanuel 2
Ezekiel 2
Fredk. 2
Harold 2
Hezekiah 2
Matthew 2
Paul 2
Reuben 2
Saml. 2
Silas 2
Wm. 2
Chas.J. 1
Elisha 1
Enoch 1
Eustace 1

FAQ

Trafford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trafford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,184 people were recorded with the Trafford surname. That placed it at #3,401 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trafford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,579 in 2016. That gives Trafford a modern rank of #3,930.

What does the Trafford surname mean?

From Old English referring to an area having a ford or shallow crossing point over a stream.

What does the Trafford map show?

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