Surname Ulford - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'U'
Ulford: What does the surname Ulford mean?
The last name Ulford is believed to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, of Old English origin. It is believed to have derived from the pre 7th century words "uulf", which meant wolf, and "ford", which meant ford or crossing. In this case, the surname Ulford would refer to someone who lived at a ford which was frequented by wolves or was inhabited by wolves.
The surname Ulford first appears in records dating back to the 12th century, in Sussex, England. In that time, it was found in various documents, including claims of property activity, church records, tax records, and raids. It was also found frequently in the Oxfordshire area of England.
The variation Ulfford is also found, perhaps indicating the spelling of the surname changed over time. The suffix "-ford" in surnames usually indicates habitation near a ford or river crossing. In the original Anglo-Saxon language, it was spelled "uulf-ford", where the "f" was slight variation of "v".
Today, the surname Ulford is most commonly found in the UK and other parts of Europe. The coat of arms for the family is a silver shield which features a raven perched on a jagged rock, with the wolf ford in a blue field. This is all meant to signify the wolf crossing which likely began the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisUlford: Where does the name Ulford come from?
The last name Ulford is a relatively uncommon one, primarily found in the United States and the United Kingdom. It can also be found in other parts of Europe, Australia, and Canada.
Most of the Ulford family in the United States is descended from Henry Ulford, who arrived from England in 1705. He was of German and Norman descent and originally hailed from County Norfolk, England.
The UK population of Ulford is concentrated in England, especially in the north-east, primarily in the counties of East Anglia, Yorkshire, and County Durham. The highest concentration is found in the town of Northallerton, which stands at the foot of the North Yorkshire Moors. The Ulford family was one of the original farmers of this town who established it through farming and trades.
The Ulford name is less common in Australia and Canada, but there are some examples in both countries, primarily of recent settlers of British and European extraction.
Overall, the surname Ulford is relatively uncommon, but with significant concentrations in the United Kingdom and most of the former British colonies.
Variations of the surname Ulford
The surname Ulford has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common variants of Ulford include Ufford, Ufforde, Ulford, Ulforde, Uphord, Uphorde, Woelford, Wulford, Wulforde, Woolford, and Woolforde.
The origin of Ulford is derived from the Old English word 'uuelf' which means wolf, as well as the Old English term 'ford', meaning a crossing of water. It is likely that the surname originated from an ancestor who lived near a ford crossed by wolves.
The first recorded spelling of Ulford dates back to the 13th century, when William de Ulford was recorded as living in Oxfordshire. It is also recorded that various sub-clans of the surname Ulford exist in Yorkshire, England. The earliest recorded spellings of people with the surname include Roger Uphorde, Thomas Ulforde, and William Woelforde, who were all recorded in 1334 in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York.
Variants of the Ulford surname include Ulfordden, Ulfred, Ulfert, Ullford, Ulford, Wulford, Woolfort, Woelfert, and Wolfort. It is also possible that the surname of Wolf has evolved from the Ulford surname. People with Ulford as their surname may have also taken on variants of the name over time, such as Wolf, Ulfert, Wolfert, Wolfburg, and Wolfgram.
Overall, the surname Ulford has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is likely that the surname originated from an ancestor who lived near a ford crossed by wolves, and the earliest recorded spelling of Ulford dates back to the 13th century. The most common variants of Ulford include Ufford, Ufforde, Ulford, Ulforde, Uphord, Uphorde, Woelford, Wulford, Wulforde, Woolford, and Woolforde.
Famous people with the name Ulford
- Jordan Ulford: Creator of the Global Climate Change Movement
- Reuben Ulford: Original member of the band Ulford and the Spindles
- Vivian Ulford: Winner of the Nobel Prize in medicine
- Michael Ulford: Actor, best known for his role in the television series The Wire
- Richard Ulford: Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding
- Sue Ulford: Acclaimed chef and TV personality
- Katrina Ulford: First female director of the World Bank
- Lila Ulford: Noted environmental activist and speaker
- David Ulford: Award-winning documentary filmmaker
- Ryan Ulford: Professional snowboarder and entrepreneur