Explore the Family Name Ratchford
The meaning of Ratchford
English: 1. habitational name from Rochford (Worcestershire), from Old English ræcc ‘hunting dog’ (genitive ræcces) + ford ‘ford’. 2. habitational name from Rochford (Essex). Early forms of the name ending in Ro- suggest that the placename derives from Old English hrōc ‘rook’ or the Old English personal name Hrōc(a) + Old English ford ‘ford’, but the 13th century forms in Ra- and Re- suggest that the first element is Old English ræcc ‘hunting dog’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ratchford in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Ratchford shows a slight decline in rank from 13,675 in 2000 to 14,358 in 2010, reflecting a change of -4.99 percent. Despite this, the count of individuals bearing the surname increased marginally by 2.41 percent, from 2,034 in 2000 to 2,083 in 2010. However, the proportion per 100,000 people decreased by 5.33 percent, moving from 0.75 in 2000 to 0.71 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,675 | #14,358 | -4.99% |
| Count | 2,034 | 2,083 | 2.41% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.75 | 0.71 | -5.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ratchford
Looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname Ratchford, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals a variety of backgrounds. The largest group identified as White, though the percentage dropped slightly from 71.09 in 2000 to 68.70 in 2010. Black ethnicity saw a minor increase, moving from 25.37 to 25.54. The most notable increases were seen among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native, which grew by 82.35 percent and 140.74 percent respectively. Individuals identifying with two or more races also increased by 56.52 percent, while the Hispanic ethnicity experienced a modest rise of 31.25 percent between 2000 and 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 71.09% | 68.7% | -3.36% |
| Black | 25.37% | 25.54% | 0.67% |
| Two or More Races | 1.38% | 2.16% | 56.52% |
| Hispanic | 1.28% | 1.68% | 31.25% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.54% | 1.3% | 140.74% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.34% | 0.62% | 82.35% |