Buford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland

The ancestors of the name Buford date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The surname is generally thought to have come from a place name, such as from Burford in Oxfordshire, or Burford in Shropshire. 1

These place names are derived from the Old English words "burh," meaning "stronghold," or a "fortified manor," and "ford," a location where a river can be crossed. Some variations of this surname, no doubt come from the Old French word "buffet," meaning "table" or "cupboard." 2

Early Origins of the Buford family

The surname Buford was first found in Shropshire where two of the first listings of the family were listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Hugo de Bureford: and Roger de Bureford. 3 William le Burford and Walter le Boreforde were both listed in Kirby's Quest as holding lands in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) 4

Early History of the Buford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Buford research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1329 and 1620 are included under the topic Early Buford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Buford Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Buford has been recorded under many different variations, including Burford, Bareford, Berford, Barford, Buford, Burfort and many more.

Early Notables of the Buford family

More information is included under the topic Early Buford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Buford Ranking

In the United States, the name Buford is the 2,739^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Buford family to Ireland

Some of the Buford family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Buford migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Buford or a variant listed above:

Buford Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Buford, who landed in Virginia in 1635 6

Buford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Y Buford, who arrived in Texas in 1835 6
Mrs. M. P. Buford, aged 44, who immigrated to America, in 1892
Joseph S. Buford, aged 46, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896

Buford Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Eleanor Roy Buford, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1903
C. N. Buford, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
Charlotte Buford, aged 60, who landed in America, in 1907
Blanche Buford, aged 50, who landed in America, in 1907
Lucy D. Buford, aged 54, who settled in America, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Buford (post 1700) +

Earl Buford (1941-2023), American police officer, Pittsburgh Police Chief from June 15, 1992 until December 29, 1995
Tom Buford (1949-2022), American politician, Member of the Kentucky Senate (1991-2021)
George "Mojo" Buford (1929-2011), American blues harmonica player, best known for his work in Muddy Waters band
Algernon Sidney Buford (1826-1911), American president of the Richmond and Danville Railroad
Joe Buford (b. 1967), American NASCAR racecar driver from Franklin, Tennessee
Maury Anthony Buford (b. 1960), American NFL football punter
Napoleon Bonaparte Buford (1807-1883), American soldier, Union general in the American Civil War
William Buford (b. 1990), American basketball player
Abraham Buford (1747-1833), Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War, commanding officer of the American forces at the Battle of Waxhaws
Damon Buford (b. 1970), American retired Major League Baseball player
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)