Surname Pafford - Meaning and Origin
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Pafford: What does the surname Pafford mean?
The last name Pafford is of Anglo-Saxon rooted origin, and is found mainly in the United Kingdom and in the United States. It is derived from the Old English words 'Pæffram', meaning 'the dweller at the peak', and 'ford', meaning an area of land with shallow water. This could refer to a person who lived on the crest of a hill, where a shallow river could be easily crossed.
The Pafford surname is quite rare and largely significant in the English speaking world. From the early part of the fifteenth century, the name has mostly been concentrated in the Hampshire area of England. It is said to have originated there and spread to other countries in the form of spellings such as Pafford, Pavard, and Paffard.
From records, descended from the Pafford are documented to have helped build and settle colonial America, and they even started a newspaper. Notable figures include Isham Pafford who founded a newspaper after arriving in America from London in 1682.
The Pafford family appears to have grown larger both in America and the United Kingdom since that time. The name stands for reliability and strength, and they have strong roots in England, with a distinguished past. The Pafford family’s legacy can still be seen in today’s society, and the name is still very much alive.
Order DNA origin analysisPafford: Where does the name Pafford come from?
The last name Pafford is most commonly found in the United States. Its earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to the 16th century, when Englishman Matthew Pafford arrived in the Jamestown area in 1638. Since then, the Pafford family has grown in prominence throughout America.
Today, a Google search for the Pafford surname brings up almost 1,800,000 results. And according to census data, the Pafford surname is most prevalent in the southern states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. However, the Pafford name can be found in many other states throughout the United States, such as Texas, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina.
Interestingly, the surname also has a strong association with the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, census records reveal that the Pafford surname is particularly common in the East of England, including Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Bedfordshire. There is also a sizable population of Paffords in the London boroughs of Kensington, Fulham, and Chelsea.
Variations of the surname Pafford
The surname Pafford is of German origin and is derived from the Old German name "Baffardo". The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include: Pavard, Pavaird, Pafard, Paff, Paffe, Paffer, Paffard, Paffert, Pafferd, Pafford, Pavord, and Paffordt.
Pavard is a variation of the Old German name "Baffardo". This version of the surname is often seen in Germany and other countries descended from Germanic roots, such as Sweden and Norway. This surname is thought to have originated in Bavaria during the Middle Ages.
Pavaird is a variant of Pavard and is thought to have originated in the German region of Baden-Württemberg. It is also often found in French records, and is thought to have been used in France by people of German origin.
Pafard is the English spelling of the German name "Baffardo" and was primarily used in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries. Paff is the Dutch version of the same surname.
Paffe and Paffer are two related East and West European variations of the German name "Baffardo". This surname is found in various countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Italy, and Hungary.
Paffard, Paffert and Pafferd are all variants of the surname Pafford and can be found in countries such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Pafford is the most common version of the name and is found in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Pavord and Paffordt are two alternate spellings of the surname Pafford. Pavord is a Dutch variant of the name, while Paffordt is a German version of the name. Both surnames can be found in Germany, the Netherlands, and other countries with Germanic roots.
Famous people with the name Pafford
- Bob Pafford: Bob is a local businessman and philanthropist from Little Rock, Arkansas who is the founder and chairman of the Pafford Foundation, a charitable organization that funds primarily educational programs in Arkansas.
- Cora Pafford Holmes: Cora is a former nurse, one of the few African-American women to serve in World War II, and recipient of the Purple Heart.
- D. Brian Pafford: Brian is the current CEO of Pafford Medical Services, a private EMS agency based in Hope, Arkansas.
- Paul Pafford: Paul is a former United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1999-2001, appointed by President Bill Clinton.
- Gen. Charles Pafford (Ret.): General Pafford is a retired four-star general of the United States Army who served as commander of the US Army in Europe and the Seventh Army in Germany.
- Raymond Pafford: Raymond served as the Third Secretary and Vice Consul of the US Embassy in Cairo from 1987-1991 and helped to establish the Grant Program for Tunisia and Egypt in that role.
- Cynthia Pafford: Cynthia is the current President and CEO of the healthcare organization AVIA.
- Joseph Pafford: Joseph is the founder and CEO of Pafford Security, a security and risk management company.
- Marcello Pafford: Marcello is an Italian architect based in Rome who has been awarded numerous awards and recognition for his work on historic buildings.
- Janis Pafford: Janis is a former NASA astronaut who flew four space shuttle missions, the last being in 1994.