Ford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The name Ford has been recorded in British history since the time when the Anglo-Saxons ruled over the region. The name is assumed to have been given to someone who was a keeper of the ford or river crossing. 1

Early Origins of the Ford family

The surname Ford was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Bruma de la forda was listed at Winton, Hampshire. 2 Years later in Somerset, Eadric æt Fordan was listed as an Old English Byname, 1100-1130. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included Reginald de la Forthe in Suffolk and later, Geoffrey atte Forde was found in Sussex in 1296. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls also included: Richard de la Forde, Norfolk; and William de la Forde, Kent. 4 In Somerset, David atte Forde was registered there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 5

The name is "characteristic of the southern and western counties. Absent or singularly rare north of a line drawn from the Wash to the Mersey. It is at present most numerous in Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hants, and Cheshire. In almost all the counties where this name is at all frequent we find it in one form or another as a place - name." 6

Early History of the Ford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ford research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1559, 1586, 1594, 1598, 1615, 1616, 1619, 1640, 1642, 1660, 1662, 1664, 1669, 1674, 1684, 1699, 1804, 1826, 1846, 1847, 1863, 1890, 1905 and 1947 are included under the topic Early Ford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ford Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Ford has been spelled many different ways, including Forde, Ford, Alford and others.

Early Notables of the Ford family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Ford World Ranking

In the United States, the name Ford is the 102nd most popular surname with an estimated 203,934 people with that name. 7 However, in Canada, the name Ford is ranked the 327th most popular surname with an estimated 13,741 people with that name. 8 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Ford is the 142nd popular surname with an estimated 267 people with that name. 9 Australia ranks Ford as 111st with 24,223 people. 10 New Zealand ranks Ford as 152nd with 3,307 people. 11 The United Kingdom ranks Ford as 116th with 42,269 people. 12

Migration of the Ford family to Ireland

Some of the Ford family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 126 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Ford migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Fords to arrive in North America:

Ford Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Ford Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Ford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ford migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ford Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Ford Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Ford migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ford Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Ford Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Ford migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ford Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Ford migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 21
Ford Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Ford (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Ford +
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