Explore the Family Name Gafford
The meaning of Gafford
1. English (southeastern): assimilated form of Gatford, a name of various origins. In Sussex and Surrey it is perhaps a variant of the habitational name Catford from a place so called in Somerset. Gatford is also from the habitational names Gateford (in Worksop, Nottinghamshire) or Gateforth (near Selby, Yorkshire), both formed with Old English gāt ‘goat’ + ford ‘ford’, influenced by Old Norse geit ‘goat’. 2. English: perhaps an altered form of Gatewood, an occupational name for a ‘goatherd’ (Middle English gate-werde, Old English gātweard) or for a ‘gate keeper’ (Middle English gateward, Old English ʒeatweard, dialect gātward). 3. Probably also an altered form of German Gaffert: habitational name from Gaffert near Köslin, Brandenburg, or from a personal name formed with Middle High German gate ‘fellow, companion’. The surname Gaffert is very rare in Germany.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gafford in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Gafford has seen some fluctuation in popularity over the years. In 2000, it was ranked as the 11,701th most popular surname and by 2010, it had dropped slightly to 12,059th. Despite this drop in ranking, the actual count of individuals with the Gafford surname increased from 2,456 in 2000 to 2,586 in 2010, showing a growth of 5.29 percent. However, when considering the proportion per 100,000 people, there was a small decrease of 3.3 percent, from 0.91 to 0.88.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,701 | #12,059 | -3.06% |
| Count | 2,456 | 2,586 | 5.29% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.91 | 0.88 | -3.3% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gafford
Examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Gafford, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, reveals a diverse range of backgrounds. The largest group identified as White, although their percentage decreased slightly from 81.47 percent in 2000 to 78.46 percent in 2010. Those identifying as Black held steady at around 14.82 percent in 2000 and 14.62 percent in 2010. Notably, there were significant increases in those identifying as having two or more races (from 1.22 percent to 2.78 percent) and those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native (from 0.29 percent to 1.04 percent). The percentages of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic also saw increases, from 0.45 percent to 0.54 percent and from 1.75 percent to 2.55 percent respectively.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 81.47% | 78.46% | -3.69% |
| Black | 14.82% | 14.62% | -1.35% |
| Two or More Races | 1.22% | 2.78% | 127.87% |
| Hispanic | 1.75% | 2.55% | 45.71% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.29% | 1.04% | 258.62% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.45% | 0.54% | 20% |