Surname Oaksford - Meaning and Origin
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Oaksford: What does the surname Oaksford mean?
The etymology of the last name Oaksford is uncertain. It is believed to have originated in England, primarily in the counties of Hampshire and Dorset during the Middle Ages.
The name is thought to be derived from two Old English words, “oeces” meaning oak and “ford” meaning shallow part of a river, thus translating to “oak ford.” It is likely that the original family associated with this name lived close to a ford that had a number of oak trees. The name may also have been a form of endearment for a person or family that were associated with the nature of an oak tree; characteristics such as strength and endurance were often attributed to oak trees in the past.
The Oaksford name is not common and is rarely seen outside of England. While the name has never been popular in the United States, there are traces of it scattered throughout England with a higher population of Oaksfords being located in the region where the last name derives.
Overall, the last name Oaksford is a unique yet interesting name with a mysterious meaning. It’s a modern reminder of an old tradition, and a tribute to the strength of nature and its power to survive in the face of change.
Order DNA origin analysisOaksford: Where does the name Oaksford come from?
The last name Oaksford is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom. There are many variations of Oaksford including Oakford, Oakesford, Oksford, Oakesforth, and Oksforth. It is believed to have arisen in the British Isles during medieval times and is recorded on documents dating back to the 1500s. Oaksford is a locational surname, which is derived from a place name when a person moved to a new town or village. In this case, Oaksford is believed to have derived from villages in England such as Oakford in Devon or Oaksford in Kent. It is also suggested that Oaksford is an Old English name for a person who lived by a oak tree.
Currently, the Oaksford name is common throughout England and potentially Scotland. The most concentrated areas of Oaksford are located in the counties of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, Oxfordshire, and Kent. There are many variations of the name all across the United Kingdom as well and it is believed to be among one of the more common last names in the British Isles.
Variations of the surname Oaksford
The surname Oaksford is an English origin name deriving from a geographical locality. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for this name include: Oakford, Ockford, Ockforde, Okesford, Okesforde, Okesforth, Oksford, Oksforde, Okesforth, Okesforth, Oksforth, Oaksforth, Oakforth, Okford, Oksforth, Occford, Okksford, Oggsford, Okkesfords, Oggesforths and Ogksfords.
The origin of the name is based in the Olde English personal name Ocka which was derived from ‘Ac’, an occupational name. The name Oaksford is a place name and can be translated to mean ‘Ocka’s ford’, and is likely to have derived from a ford over a river or stream near Ockham in Surrey. It was common practice for those living near a geographical feature to adopt the locality name as a surname.
The suffix ‘ford’ which is part of the surname implies an area where a ford crossing was located and suggests that the locals may have been of a more rural nature such as farmers or traders. It is also likely that the area served as a kind of post, trading spot or crossroads where goods were exchanged and traded.
The many variants of the surname Oaksford all exhibit the same linguistic and geographical origin and likely indicate the migrations of people with the name over time from the focus area in Surrey to other locales around England. The variants are indicative of the reflective nature of dialects from region to region, and how the same pronunciation of a name can differ over time.
Famous people with the name Oaksford
- Naomi Oaksford: British actress from Eastenders
- Chris Oaksford: Professor of Psychology at the University of Exeter
- Jim Oaksford: British comedian who has appeared on television shows such as The Generation Game and The Golden Shot
- William Oaksford: Leading British architect and stage and television set designer
- John Oaksford: New Zealand portrait and landscape painter
- Gavin Oaksford: South African cricket coach and former national team batsman
- Nick Oaksford: British psychologist, author and broadcaster
- Tim Oaksford: First-class cricketer from Worcestershire
- Mark Oaksford: President and COO of PFG Best, an online trading services firm
- Hazel Oaksford: British television actress, best known for her role as the title character in the series Harriet's Back in Town