Surname Weatherford - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Unveiling Ancestral Secrets: The Transformative Journey Via iGENEA DNA Test
I underwent a DNA test offered by iGENEA, aimed at unraveling the stories related to my Weatherford ancestry. The experience was revelatory, throwing light onto the adventurous and resilient lives of my forebears, and reshaping my self-understanding.
C. Weatherford
read moreWeatherford: What does the surname Weatherford mean?
The surname Weatherford is of Old English origin and is derived from a place name. The name appears to combine two Old English words: "wether" which means a "castrated ram" and "ford", which refers to "a shallow part of a river or stream allowing one to walk or drive across". So, it might refer to a ford where rams were brought across. It's also possible that it could refer to a place where sheep were kept. Like many surnames, Weatherford was likely a geographic name given to a family living near a particular location or feature. Although it is mainly found in the United States today, it might have originated from a now-lost or unrecorded place in England. Different variations of this surname exist, based on phonetic translations and regional dialects.
Order DNA origin analysisWeatherford: Where does the name Weatherford come from?
The last name Weatherford is most commonly found in the United States in the states of Virginia, Texas, and Oklahoma. In Virginia, the surname is most widespread in the cities of Richmond, Fairfax, and Charlottesville. In Texas, Weatherford is seen frequently in the cities of Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Oklahoma also bears the name in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Edmond. This name has grown more popular over recent years as an increasing number of people have started to use the Weatherford surname.
Aside from the United States, there are some scattered Weatherford families in Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, and Australia. In Canada, the surname is found more commonly in British Columbia and Alberta, while in the UK, it is most widely seen in Somerset, Wiltshire, and Devon. The Netherlands and Australia each possess fewer occurrences of the last name, but Weatherford can still be tracked in small pockets throughout the countries.
In general, the name Weatherford is traced back to its English origins and originally referred to those who lived on the weather side of a hill. It appears to have first gained notoriety in the English county of Wiltshire in the 12th century and gradually spread throughout the world in following centuries.
Variations of the surname Weatherford
The Weatherford surname is derived from the old English location of Werford, which means "ford on the River Wey" and can be found in records dating back to the 13th century. Variations of the Weatherford surname include Wetherford, Watherford, Wetherforth, Wetherfurd, Weatherferd, Wethereford, Wettherford, Weatherfurd, Wethereford, and Wetfurth.
Other surnames of similar origin include: Weedford, Weeadford, Weaodford, Wedford, Weaford, Weafort, Weadford, Weafford, Wedfor, Weadfor, Weagerford, Wederford, Wefford, Woedford, Weidford, Wedderford, Widford, Whatford, and Whiford.
There are also several similar-sounding surnames that are not related to Weatherford, such as: Wetterford, Wetteroff, Watterford, Watterson, Watters, and Wetherall.
In addition to being found in England, the Weatherford surname is common in the United States, particularly in the South. Notable Weatherford family members include American writers Calvin and Betty Weatherford.
Famous people with the name Weatherford
- Christine Weatherford: a legendary songwriter and entrepreneur known for writing hits for urban artist such as Three 6 Mafia, Trey Songz, and others.
- Noah Weatherford: the co-founder of Strava digital health and fitness brand and former President of Specialized Bicycle Components.
- Sam Weatherford: an American actor who had roles in classic westerns like The Wild Bunch and The Outlaw Josey Wales.
- Rachel Weatherford: an American snowboarder who won three Olympic medals for the US Women’s Olympic team.
- Dave Weatherford: a singer-songwriter and former lead vocalist for the band Harvey Danger.
- Tyler Weatherford: an American actor best known for his leading roles in movies like Daniel’s Lot and A Place at the Table.
- Mark Weatherford: the former Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity at the US Department of Homeland Security.
- Chauncey Weatherford: a former American football safety with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots.
- Charlie Weatherford: an American film producer and actor best known for documentaries such as the Academy Award-winning When We Were Kings.
- Leesha Weatherford: an American dancer and choreographer who appeared on the hit show So You Think You Can Dance.