Surname Halford - Meaning and Origin
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Halford: What does the surname Halford mean?
The surname Halford is a habitational name that originated as the name of a number of places in England. The first origin of the name derives from the Old English “Hælford” which was thought to mean ‘ford at the hill’. It comes from a combination of the Old English pre 7th Century words “healf” (meaning ‘half’) and “ford” (a crossing point of a river or other body of water). The second place of origin of the name is Warwickshire in the West Midlands of England. Here the name is derived from the personal name “Heardwulf”, which is a combination of the Old English words “heard” (meaning “hardy” or “strong”, and “wulf” (meaning “wolf”).
The Halford name is found in several records throughout the centuries, such as the Doomsday book of 1086. The earliest known recording was of Henry de Halford in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in 1167. It is recorded in the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 for Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Leicestershire. It is also on records for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Devon, Wiltshire, Northumberland and Staffordshire.
The Halford name is spread worldwide, with records in some countries in Europe, but it is most common in the United Kingdom. The number of bearers of the Halford name decreased quite significantly in England and Wales during the 19th century. This was probably due to people leaving the countryside to look for work in thegrowing industrial towns. In Scotland and Ireland, the name is still quite common.
The Halford name conveys a proud connection to the past, and the people who beared it will have contributed to the rich history of the various countries in which it is found.
Order DNA origin analysisHalford: Where does the name Halford come from?
The last name Halford is common throughout many different countries today. In England, the name Halford has been the most common in recent years, with 148 people on the electoral roll in England and Wales bearing the name. The majority of Halfords living in England are concentrated in the Midlands, particularly in the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.
Halford is also a very popular name in Ireland, particularly in the counties of Wexford, Waterford and Cork. Australia is also home to a fair number of Halfords, with those bearing the name mainly from West Australia and New South Wales.
In the United States, Halford is an uncommon name and the largest population can be found in California. Several towns in the US are also named Halford. The population of those bearing the Halford surname in Canada is also small.
Overall, the last name Halford is most common in the countries of England, Ireland, Australia and the United States.
Variations of the surname Halford
Halford is an English surname, derived from the Old English words “halh” and “ford”. It was originally a habitational name for someone who lived near a shallow river crossing or a fording place.
The surname has many variant spellings and forms, including Halford, Hallford, Halverd, Halvaird, Halverde, Halverdere, Havard, Havarde, and Havarder. Some variants have been altered due to regional and dialectical differences. For example, in Scotland the spelling of Halford is “Halfard”.
Halford can also be spelt Haleford in some areas, such as Devon, Cornwall and Wales. The Welsh-influenced spelling is Halffordh, and it can also be found spelt as Holford in Shropshire.
It is also common to find the surname with alternate spellings as a result of phonetic spelling, such as Hafard, Halphord, and Halpharde.
Variants of the family name are also found internationally; in France, the surname is spelt Halard, Hallard, and Halfort. In Germany and the Netherlands, the surname is spelt Halverdict, Halverdi, Halverdink, and Halverdonk.
Some well-known bearers of the Halford surname include William Halford, a 19th century English recipient of the Victoria Cross; the late American actress Jean Halford; and the American composer, conductor and orchestrator, David M. Halford.
Famous people with the name Halford
- Rob Halford, the lead singer of Judas Priest
- Trevor Halford, footballer and former player of Bradford City
- John Halford, former Lord Mayor of London
- Sir Patrick Halford, former British diplomat
- Michael Halford, successful trainer of thoroughbred racehorses
- William Halford, painter and sculptor
- Betty Halford, actress and dancer
- Lewis Halford, British-American actor
- Jake Halford, athlete and British decathlete
- Tim Halford, rugby union player and former Leicester Tigers player