Surname Hurford - Meaning and Origin
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Hurford: What does the surname Hurford mean?
The surname Hurford is of English origin and it is often considered topographical, implying that it was originally given to individuals residing near a physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Specifically, 'Hurford' likely evolved from Old English 'hurne', which means 'horn', and 'ford', which means 'ford' - a shallow point in a river or stream permitting one to walk or drive across. Thus, the collective interpretation of Hurford is 'the crossing at the horn shaped bend in the river'. It may have been given to people who lived near such a location. It is worth noting that during ancient times, individuals often moved from one place to another, causing the original meaning of surnames to lose its significance. This name is fairly uncommon today but can still be found in some parts of England and other countries.
Order DNA origin analysisHurford: Where does the name Hurford come from?
The surname Hurford is of English origin. It is a habitational name denoting someone from a place called Hurford, derived from the Old English elements "hyrne," which means corner and "ford," which refers to a river crossing. Two such places exist, one in Dorset and the other in Gloucestershire, where the surname possibly originated.
In terms of frequency, Hurford is not a very common surname globally. As of today, the surname is most prevalent in England, specifically in the South West region, as per Worldnames PublicProfiler. It also has a significant presence in Wales, Australia, and the United States. The spread of the surname in parts of Australia and the United States can largely be attributed to English immigration patterns over the centuries.
However, despite its prevalence in these areas, it is worth noting that the Hurford surname is considered quite rare globally.
Variations of the surname Hurford
The surname Hurford is of English origin and is believed to have derived from a geographical location, possibly from "Horsford" in Norfolk or "Horford" in Oxfordshire. Variations of the surname Hurford can include Horsford, Horford, Hurfford, Herford, and Harford.
In some cases, due to issues with literacy or dialects, names were often altered as they were written down, leading to numerous variations in spelling. For example, an individual might be called "Horsford", and the name recorded as "Hurford" due to the phonetic similarities.
Additionally, regional variants may also affect the spelling and derivation of the name. In the West Midlands, a 'Hartford' may well have the same origin as Hurford. On the other hand, the surname Hereford from Herefordshire is different in origin due to its different geographical source.
As for surnames of the same origin, it can be challenging to identify specifically related surnames due to the commonality of geography-based surnames. However, surnames such as Ashford, Twyford, and Stanford are similarly derived from English place names, likely denoting locations near a river crossing or a significant ford.
Famous people with the name Hurford
- Emily Hurford: British journalist and documentary filmmaker
- Stephen Hurford: British singer-songwriter
- Marissa Hurford: reality television star
- Spencer Hurford: American professional golfer
- Max Hurford: British actor
- Roger Hurford: English actor
- Lacey Hurford: Canadian poet
- John Hurford: British cricketer
- Paul Hurford: Australian cricketer
- David Hurford: American actor and director
- Jack Hurford: British footballer
- Mike Hurford: English actor
- Jacky Hurford: British musician
- Helen Hurford: English singer-songwriter
- Bob Hurford: English footballer
- Stuart Hurford: English footballer
- Justin Hurford: British comedian
- Helen Hurford: British actress
- James Hurford: English writer and photographer
- William Hurford: American poet