Alford

English

Alternative forms

• (surname): Allford, Alvord

Etymology

From the Old English female given name Ealdgȳþ ford (“ford”).

Proper noun

Alford (countable and uncountable, plural Alfords)

1. (uncountable) A placename:
   1. A town and civil parish with a town council in East Lindsey district, Lincolnshire, England (OS grid ref TF4576).
   2. A village and civil parish (served by Cary Moor parish council) in Somerset, England, previously in South Somerset district (OS grid ref ST6032).
   3. A village in Aberdeenshire council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NJ5716).
   4. A town in Jackson County, Florida, United States.
   5. An unincorporated community in Pike County, Indiana, United States.
   6. A town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States.
   7. A settlement in Barunga West council area, South Australia.
2. A habitational surname from Old English.
   • 1655 April 21, “Mr. Ja. Nutley to ſecreary Thurloe.”, in A Collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, Eſq; […], volume III, London: […] the Executor of the late Mr. Fletcher Gyles; Thomas Woodward, […] Charles Davis, […], published 1742, page 399:

     I had almoſt forgotten to acquaint your honor, that one major Alford (who was in mr. Love's conſpiracy) was of the graund inqueſt at Saliſbury, and was very zealous in his highneſſe ſervice here, and his good affection and wiſe carriage here, did much advantage the buſſineſe.

Derived terms

• Alford plea

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Alford is the 1140^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 30771 individuals. Alford is most common among White (63.95%) and Black/African American (30.58%) individuals.

References

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Alford”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 1, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 23.