Surname Mundford - Meaning and Origin
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Mundford: What does the surname Mundford mean?
The surname Mundford appears to be of English origin though it's quite rare and not commonly found. It's likely derived from a geographical location, as many English surnames are. The name might be related to the village of Mundford in Norfolk, England. In Old English, "Mund" translates to "protection" or "guardian", and "Ford" is a shallow crossing at a river or stream. Therefore, the name could potentially mean "the guardian's crossing" or "protection at the crossing." Surnames tied to geographical features were often given to identify where an individual lived or came from. However, without specific genealogical research, it's hard to accurately determine the exact meaning of the surname Mundford.
Order DNA origin analysisMundford: Where does the name Mundford come from?
The surname Mundford is not exceptionally common today in any particular region. The Mundford name has a long history in parts of southern England, especially in the counties of Kent and East Sussex. Most Mundfords living today can likely trace their heritage back to the Middle Ages.
Mundford is a locational name, denoting someone who lived on, or near, a piece of ground originally called Mundford. The original place name is derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century elements "mund" meaning protection, and "ford" a shallow river crossing.
Records of Mundfords in England date back to the 13th century, when the family held land estates in Kent County. Later in the 16th century, a few Mundfords moved to East Sussex, Hastings area. This was likely due to the rise of small industries in the area such as leatherwork, lace making, and brewing.
Today, Mundford is still a name that is mildly dispersed across England. It is not as common as some other English surnames such as Smith or Jones, but it is far from extinct. As technology and transportation have advanced, Mundfords around the world have been able to connect and many families have been reunited or located after years of separation.
Variations of the surname Mundford
The Mundford surname has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Mundforth, Mundforde, Mantford, Manford, and Mundfurd. All of these surnames are derived from an Old English place name located in Bedfordshire. The element Mund refers to a main river or lake and the element ford refers to a shallow crossing place over a body of water.
Mundford is usually an English surname but the variation Manford is mainly Irish and Scottish. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac an Bhain-‐fhoirt which means "son of the white ford". The surname Mantford is a derivative of the place name only and is a combination of the 'Mund' and 'Ford' elements.
Other variations of the surname Mundford include Mundeford, Moldford, Mundeforth, Mundeford, and Mundyford. All of these surnames originate from the same location in Old English and have the same meaning of "a crossing over a lake or river". The spelling of the surname can also vary over time, with many generations ending up with a different spelling.
The Mundford surname is still in use today, by both individuals and families, and as is the case with other surnames from the same era, has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Mundford
- Mabel Mundford, British-born South African artist
- John Mundford, an English actor who appeared in films like Coppermine and Crawlspace
- Nicholas Mundford, an English-born author and historian
- Vanessa Mundford, British TV and film actress
- Vern Mundford, American composer, conductor, and arranger
- Elijah Mundford, an American professional football player
- Edward Mundford, an English cricketer and long-time player for Essex County Cricket Club
- Barry Mundford, English football player and manager with Derby County Football Club from 1972 to 1974
- Charlotte Mundford, a member of the family of the Duke of Norfolk
- Ann Mundford, English author of fiction and non-fiction books for young people