Surname Vanderford - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'V'
Vanderford: What does the surname Vanderford mean?
The surname Vanderford is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English pre 7th Century elements "fearn", meaning fern, and "ford", meaning ford or shallow part of a river or stream. Therefore, Vanderford can be interpreted as "dweller by the fern-covered ford". It is a locational surname referring to a geographic feature near which the initial bearer lived or held land. The addition of 'Van' in the name could possibly denote a Dutch influence. It indicates that the ancestors of people with this surname likely resided near a shallow crossing in a river that was surrounded by ferns. Over time, the family adopted the name referencing this landscape feature. This was a common method of creating surnames during medieval times.
Order DNA origin analysisVanderford: Where does the name Vanderford come from?
The last name Vanderford is most commonly found today in the United States. It originated as a Dutch surname, likely in the Netherlands in the 16th century, where its primary source was a Melchior de van der Fordt. Vanderford is a rare surname even in the United States; data from the Census Bureau reveals that it is most heavily concentrated in Texas, followed by states such as Mississippi, Ohio, and Michigan.
In the United States, Vanderford can be found in high numbers in small towns, such as Starkville, MS, Yellow Springs, OH, and Arcadia, MI. Additionally, one of the most prominent families to carry the name, The Vanderfords of Virginia, can trace their lineage to Thomas and Ann Minty Vanderford, English-born Quakers who immigrated to America in 1678.
In terms of social class, the Vanderfords were typically small farmers or tradesmen; however, those of the name have since achieved success and recognition in a variety of fields. For example, George Vanderford, the first documented American-born Vanderford, fought in the American Revolutionary War and went on to serve as a state senator in Kentucky. More recently, Susan Vanderford, an American writer and filmmaker, won the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for feature writing.
Variations of the surname Vanderford
The surname Vanderford has some common variants, spellings, and surnames that have the same origin.
Variants: VanDerford, Van der Ford, Van der Forder
Spellings: Vanderfoord, Vanderforde, Vanderforth
Surnames: van de Ford, van de Forde, Vonderford, Von der Ford.
These surnames all come from the same root name, Van De Ford (meaning “from the ford”). The Dutch and German phrase of “van de” means “from the”, so the name Van De Ford, or any variant, literally means “from the ford”. It is believed that its origin originates from individuals who settled near a ford used as a river crossing.
The first record of this surname was in the late 17th century when William Vanderfoord, son of Peter Vanderfoord, was bequeathed lands in Kings County, New York, USA. The surname has since spread to Australia, Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Today, many families, especially in the United States, still bear the name Vanderford. This can be seen in the Social Security Death Index from the United States, which has entries of Vanderfords from 1915 to 2017.
Many surnames have come from the same origin as Vanderford, especially in Dutch and German regions. Accordingly, there are various variants, spellings, and surnames that share the same root as Vanderford.
Famous people with the name Vanderford
- Will Vanderford: Professional MMA fighter
- Shane Vanderford: American actor and singer
- Daisy Vanderford: Beverly Hills Realtor
- Lauren Vanderford: Professional dancer
- Brandon Vanderford: Professional stunt performer
- Hunter Vanderford: Professional endurance athlete
- Taylor Vanderford: Professional skateboarder
- Ryan Vanderford: Army Combat medic
- Adam Vanderford: Professional chef and restaurateur
- Madison Vanderford: Miss Kentucky USA 2008