Surname Mofford - Meaning and Origin
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Mofford: What does the surname Mofford mean?
ThelastnameMoffordisofScottishorigin.ItusuallyderivesfromtheScottishGaelicword'mac athbhordaigh',whichtranslatesto'thesonofSomerod'.TherodfamilyoriginatedinAyrshireinScotland,andtheterm'somerod'referstoaseedalternativelyknownas'goosegrass'.
Alternatively, it also may have derived from the Scottish Gaelic name 'Mac Olaf', which translates to 'son of Olaf' or 'of Olaf's son'. This indicates that the family may be descent from a Viking ancestor.
The Mofford surname is believed to have first appeared in the records of Kintyre during the 12th century, however the earliest known record of the name comes from the parish of Dundonald, which dates back to 1582.
The name has spread far and wide, with variants such as MacMofford, Moffat, Moffatt, Mofford, McFod, MacFodd, Moffard, Moffart, Moffort, Moffot and Moffot.
The Mofford surname has a long and storied history dating back many centuries. The name reflects its origins as a strong and proud family originating in Scotland, and likely has some ties to their Viking heritage. Highly respected amongst their peers, the Mofford family is one of Scottish history and culture.
Order DNA origin analysisMofford: Where does the name Mofford come from?
The surname Mofford is believed to be of Scottish origin and is not very common today. According to the 1990 U.S. Census, the name is most prevalent in the United States, with only 38 people bearing the name at that time. The majority of Moffords living in the U.S. are concentrated in northern states, primarily New York and Pennsylvania.
In recent years, the name has become even less common, with only 21 instances of it registered in the 2010 U.S. Census. Given that there were only two instances of the name across both censuses, it appears that Mofford is a rare surname today.
Despite its low prevalence, the name is still recognizable to many, likely due to its use in films such as ‘Back to the Future II’ and ‘The Goonies.’ Its presence in popular culture has helped to keep its memory alive, even though only a handful of people continue to bear the name today.
Variations of the surname Mofford
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Mofford include Moffet, Moffat, Moffatt, Mofford, Mofferd, Moffaut, Moffordt, Moffitt, Mofford, Moford, Moffort, and Moffarth. These surnames all stem from the same origin, relaying the idea of someone who is the ‘son of Maff’ or ‘son of Murdoch’.
Moffet, Moffat, and Moffatt are variant spellings of the surname as they contain double Fs in place of single Fs, and are descriptive surnames. They are derived from the Gaelic patronymic name Mac Dubhghlais, which in turn means ‘son of Dubhghlas’, an ancient union of two Celtic words meaning "black stream”.
Mofford, Mofferd, Moffaut, Moffordt can be described as modernized spellings of the surname. These variants of the surname refer to someone who is the ‘son of Murdoch’. Murdoch is a Scottish personal name of Gaelic origin composition derived from “Muire”, which means “lord” or “master”, and “catha” which means “war”.
Moffitt, Moford, Moffort and Moffarth have also been used as variants of the surname along with the many other variations previously mentioned. These surnames are associated with families who originated in the lowlands of Scotland, the area now known as Cumbria.
In summary, Mofford is a Scottish patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic word Mac Dubhghlais, meaning ‘son of Dubhghlas’. The variants, spellings and surnames of this same origin include Moffet, Moffat, Moffatt, Mofford, Mofferd, Moffaut, Moffordt, Moffitt, Moford, Moffort and Moffarth.
Famous people with the name Mofford
- Rose Mofford (1922–2016): the first female Governor of Arizona
- Ben Mofford (1934-2016): Australian cricketer
- Edwin Mofford (1836–1900): Former Governor of Arizona Territory
- Charles Mofford (1861-1921): US Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient
- Frank Mofford (1890-1969): American professional football player
- Margaret Mofford (1879-1978): American educator
- Wallace W. Mofford (1876-1941): American politician
- Eric Mofford (1891-1960): British civil servant and cricketer
- Amalia Mofford (1849-1936): Belgian educator
- Nicholas Mofford (1714–1792): English Member of Parliament