Explore the Family Name Radford
The meaning of Radford
English and Scottish: habitational name from any of several places called Radford (Devon, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, Worcestershire), Raddiford (Devon), Ratford (Sussex, Wiltshire), Redford (Angus, Fife, Midlothian, Dorset, Sussex), Retford (Nottinghamshire), Rodford (Gloucestershire), or Rudford (Gloucestershire). Most of these placenames appear to derive from Old English rēad ‘red’ + ford ‘ford’, though some are likely to derive from Old English hrēod ‘reed’ + ford (e.g. Rodford and Rudford (Gloucestershire)), and the Oxfordshire placename may derive from Old English rād ‘riding’ + ford, probably meaning ‘ford which can be crossed on horseback’. This English name has been established in Ireland (Wexford) since the 16th century.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Radford in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Radford experienced a slight decrease in popularity from the year 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 2,636th most popular but dropped to 2,785th in 2010, marking a decrease of 5.65%. However, the actual count of individuals with the surname Radford showed an increase of 2.77%, growing from 12,607 in 2000 to 12,956 in 2010. This indicates that despite the drop in rank, the actual number of people named Radford increased over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,636 | #2,785 | -5.65% |
| Count | 12,607 | 12,956 | 2.77% |
| Proportion per 100k | 4.67 | 4.39 | -6% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Radford
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals a variety in the ethnic identities associated with the surname Radford. In the decade between 2000 and 2010, there was an increase in the percentage of people with this surname identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Two or more races, Hispanic, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native. The largest increase was seen within the Hispanic population, which grew by 40%. Conversely, the proportion of individuals identifying as White decreased by 2.01% during the same period. This shift suggests a diversification in the ethnic identity associated with the surname Radford over the course of the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 79.8% | 78.2% | -2.01% |
| Black | 16.23% | 16.84% | 3.76% |
| Two or More Races | 1.63% | 2.03% | 24.54% |
| Hispanic | 1.25% | 1.75% | 40% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.75% | 0.77% | 2.67% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.35% | 0.4% | 14.29% |
Radford ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Radford is British & Irish, which comprises 58.5% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (19.8%) and Scandinavian (4.3%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Nigerian, Italian, Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, and Spanish & Portuguese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 58.5% |
| French & German | 19.8% |
| Scandinavian | 4.3% |
| Other | 17.5% |
Possible origins of the surname Radford
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Radford have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 90.70% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 90.10% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 90.10% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 90.10% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 89.70% |
What Radford haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Radford is R-CTS241, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS241 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-P311 and R-Z346, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Joy, Langdon, Douglass, Karr, Jeffrey, Powell, Luke, Bolton, Morris, Goddard.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Radford surname are: H1, H3, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Radford have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Radford" Surname 45.2%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Radford" Surname 29.1%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Radford" Surname 14.3%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Radford" Surname 19.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Radford?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Radford are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition