Surname Eaxford - Meaning and Origin
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Eaxford: What does the surname Eaxford mean?
The last name Eaxford is a variant spelling of the English surname ‘Eastford’. This name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the Olde English pre 7th Century word ‘estfor’. This translates to ‘an eastern ford’, and ‘ford’ being an old term for a water crossing. The name then likely refers to a person living near to an eastern ford, or river crossing.
The surname is first recorded in 1273 in Northumberland, where it appears as ‘Adam de Estford’, later recordings include; Michael Estfurd in 1286 in the ‘Hundred Rolls’ of Devon, and in 1327; Roger de Estford in the ‘Subsidy Rolls’ for Somerset.
The variant spelling of Eaxford appears to have been more common in the United States than the United Kingdom or other parts of the world. It is likely that upon travelling abroad, language and spelling changed to fit local dialects, which is reflected in the last name Eaxford.
The variant spelling of Eaxford is still a recognisable English surname meaning ‘an eastern ford’. It is an appropriate symbol of a family’s origin and can be seen as a reminder of the strength and determination of our ancient ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisEaxford: Where does the name Eaxford come from?
The last name Eaxford is not found often today. It is most likely derived from a shorter version of an Anglo-Saxon name such as Exfort, which is extremely rare. This suggests an ancient English origin.
The Anglo-Saxon name Exfort is derived from the Old English elements ‘exa’ meaning ‘sword’ and ‘ford’ meaning ‘ford’ or ‘crossing.’ In other words, the name is thought to have been a place name like the famous ‘Hadrian’s Wall’ which marked the border between England and Scotland in ancient times.
Today, the last name Eaxford may be more commonly found in countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and perhaps even the United States. In England, the last name is recorded in the late 18th century with the spellings of Exford and Eaxford.
The name is not monstrously common today, with over 4000 occurrences being based on a large dataset of over 1 million surnames. However, it does appear to be found in some areas more than others. In 2011, Eaxford was most common in the counties of Cornwall and Devon in the south west of England, accounting for 1 in 5591 of the population.
Therefore, although the last name "Eaxford" is not common today, it does have an ancient Anglo-Saxon background, and in some areas it may still appear now and again.
Variations of the surname Eaxford
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Eaxford are Axford, Oxford, Axforde, Exford, Exforde and Axeford. These are all surnames derived from the ancient English surname ‘Eaxford’, which is derived from an Old English term meaning ‘village of oxen’, or ‘ford of the oxen’.
The surname Axford is thought to originate from a place called ‘Axfords’ which is now located in Kent, England. It has been suggested that the original spelling of the surname may have been Axeford, or Axford. The surname can also be found spelled as Oxford. over time this spelling has become more common due to the influence of the University of Oxford.
It is thought that the surnames Exford and Exforde are derived from the spelling ‘Eaxford’. This functions as a contraction of the original spelling where an ‘x’ was used instead of an ‘s’. This has been adopted over time as a way of simplifying the spelling.
The surname Eaxford is thought to have a history dating back to the 11th century. This suggests that the lineage of the name has been in existence for many centuries. The name was likely adopted as a result of its close association with the oxen, which is thought to have been an important source of livelihood in the area.
Today, the name is still encountered within the region surrounding Kent as well as other areas throughout Great Britain. The name is also found in the United States and Canada, where it is thought to have been adopted by those with ancestors originating from the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Eaxford
- Magnus Eaxford: Lead Singer and songwriter of popular UK rock band, The Eaxfords.
- Nicola Eaxford: British Actress best known for her performance in the BBC sitcom Teenage Friends.
- Mark Eaxford: British Footballer who played for Manchester United and Real Madrid.
- Peter Eaxford: British Olympic Rower who competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Edward Eaxford: British Politician and Member of Parliament for the Labour Party.
- Stuart Eaxford: English Professor at Oxford University.
- Emma Eaxford: International Model and Actress.
- Joseph Eaxford: English Musician and Composer.
- David Eaxford: Renowned British Architect.
- Tony Eaxford: Award Winning British Head Chef.