Explore the Family Name Watford
The meaning of Watford
English: habitational name from Watford in Hertfordshire or from the much smaller place so called in Northamptonshire. Both placenames may derive from Old English wāth ‘hunting’ or (ge)wæd ‘place for wading’ + ford ‘ford’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Watford in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Watford has seen a slight increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. Ranked at 7213 in 2000, it moved to 7194 in 2010, reflecting a small change of 0.26. The count of individuals with this surname also grew during the decade, jumping from 4270 to 4646, indicating an 8.81% rise. Despite these changes, the proportion per 100,000 people remained steady at 1.58.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,213 | #7,194 | 0.26% |
| Count | 4,270 | 4,646 | 8.81% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.58 | 1.58 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Watford
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data provides some interesting insights into those bearing the Watford surname. In 2010, the majority identified as White (57.58%), a slight decrease from 2000 (58.43%). The second largest group identified as Black (38.12%), which is nearly unchanged compared to 2000 (38.24%). The number of Hispanic individuals increased by 44.35%, although they still only represent a small proportion (1.79%) of all Watfords. Fewer individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander in 2010 (0.19%) compared to 2000 (0.23%). The percentage of individuals identifying with two or more races saw growth, moving from 1.38% to 1.76%. Lastly, the American Indian and Alaskan Native category experienced a 19.15% increase, albeit representing a small fraction of the total at 0.56%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 58.43% | 57.58% | -1.45% |
| Black | 38.24% | 38.12% | -0.31% |
| Hispanic | 1.24% | 1.79% | 44.35% |
| Two or More Races | 1.38% | 1.76% | 27.54% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.47% | 0.56% | 19.15% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.23% | 0.19% | -17.39% |