Show ContentsFord History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Ford

What does the name Ford mean?

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:

  • William Ford or Foord (c.1559-1616?), Church of England clergyman, he may have been the same William Ford who became Rector of Thurleigh, Bedfordshire in 1594 or the William Ford who became Vicar of B...
  • Thomas Ford (1598-1674), an English nonconformist minister, member of the Westminster Assembly and ejected minister of 1662
  • Simon Ford (c.1619-1699), an English divine from Devon

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
  • Mr. Robert Ford, who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1607 13
  • William Ford, from London, from London, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship "Fortune" 14
  • Miss Martha Ford, from London, from London, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship "Fortune" 14
  • Ms. Martha Ford, (widow), from London, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship "Fortune" 14
  • Mary Ford, aged 17, who arrived in Nantucket, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Mary & John" 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ford Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Reuben Ford, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1703 14
  • Christopher Ford, who arrived in Virginia in 1711 14
  • Ale Ford, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 14
  • Matthew Ford, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 14
  • Richard Ford, who arrived in Maryland in 1740 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Ford, who arrived in America in 1803 14
  • George Ford, aged 25, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1812 14
  • Robert Ford, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1812 14
  • Benjamin Ford, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1832 14
  • Sam Ford, who arrived in North America in 1832 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ford migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ford Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Henry Ford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Jeremiah Ford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • James Ford, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Joseph Ford, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
  • William Ford, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ford Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Margaret Ford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1827
  • David Ford, who arrived in Canada in 1828
  • Ira Ford, who landed in Canada in 1828
  • David B Ogden Ford, who arrived in Canada in 1832
  • Edmund Ford, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1833
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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
  • Thomas Ford, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • Mr. Robert Ford, (b. 1787), aged 28, English labourer who was convicted in Jedburgh, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • Mr. Charles Ford, (b. 1792), aged 24, English Sailor who was convicted in Devon, England for 14 years for faculige (felony), transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1832 18
  • Mr. Benjamin Ford, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • Francis Ford, English convict from Leicester, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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
  • Hayward Samuel Ford, who landed in Bay of Islands, Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • William Ford, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Lydia Ford, aged 23, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
  • William Ford, aged 33, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
  • Hannah Ford, aged 26, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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
  • Mr. George Ford, (b. 1616), aged 19, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 22
  • Mr. Tristram Ford, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling from Gravesend, England aboard the ship "Falcon" arriving in Barbados in 1636 23

Contemporary Notables of the name Ford (post 1700) +

  • Richard Ford (b. 1944), American author and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1996
  • Henry Ford II (1917-1987), known as "HF2" or "Hank the Deuce", the oldest son of Edsel Ford and oldest grandson of Henry Ford, President of Ford Motor Company (1945-1960), Chairman and CEO (1960-1979), recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Ernest Jennings "Tennessee Ernie" Ford (1919-1991), American singer, actor and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • John Ford (1895-1973), American four-time Academy Award winning film director, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Henry Ford (1863-1947), American Automotive industrialist, founder of the Ford motor company; he pioneered the assembly line technique of mass production
  • President Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. (1913-2006), American congressman, Vice President (1973-74), 38th President of the U.S. (1974-77) and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Nathan F. Ford (1927-2024), American politician, Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives (1977-1988)
  • Christopher Joseph "Chris" Ford (1949-2023), American professional basketball player and head coach from Atlantic City, New Jersey
  • Hester Ford (1906-2021), American supercentenarian who lived to be 115, oldest American person (since 2019)
  • Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford (1928-2020), nicknamed "The Chairman of the Board", an American professional MLB pitcher who played his entire 16-year with the New York Yankees, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974
  • ... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Douglas C Ford, English Midshipman serving for the Royal Navy Reserve from England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 24
  • Mr. Jack Ford (b. 1923), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Fernhurst, Sussex, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 24
  • Mr. Harold E Ford (b. 1921), Canadian Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Channel, Port-Aus-Basques, Newfoundland, Canada, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 24
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Reginald Ford, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 25
  • Mr. Herbert G Ford, British Petty Office Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 25
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Derek Rowland Ford, British Midshipman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 26
  • Mr. Cecil W M Ford, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 26
HMS Royal Oak
  • William John Ford (1919-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 27
Monongah Mine
  • Mr. Floyd Ford (b. 1869), Slavic coal miner who was in mine 6 at the Monongah Mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 28
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Arthur Hugh Ford, English Extra Chief Steward from Bootle, Lancashire, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 29
  • Mr. John Ford, English Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 29
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Ernest Ford (d. 1912), aged 32, English Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 30
  • Mr. F. Ford (d. 1912), aged 37, English Bedroom Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 30
  • Mr. H. Ford (d. 1912), aged 22, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 30
  • Mr. Thomas Ford (d. 1912), aged 30, English Leading Fireman from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 30
  • Miss Dollina Margaret Ford (d. 1912), aged 20, English Third Class passenger from Rotherfield, East Sussex who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 30
  • ... (Another 5 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. Frederick John Ford (b. 1878), Welsh coal miner from Abertridwr, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 31
  • Mr. George Ford (b. 1896), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 31
  • Mr. Henry William Ford (b. 1885), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 31
SS Caribou
  • Mr. Charles Ford Sr. (b. 1887), Newfoundland crew member from Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he died in the sinking
  • Mr. Charles Ford Jr. (b. 1915), Newfoundland crew member from Mouse Island, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Jack C. Ford, American Seaman First Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 32
  • Mr. William Walker Ford, American Electrician's Mate Third Class from Kentucky, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 32


Suggested Readings for the name Ford +

  • The Fords of Dearborn by Ford Richardson Bryan.
  • The Genealogy of George Gillette, and of John Watts Ford by Louise Dollison Marsh.
  • A History of Our Ford Family of Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee by Stith Malone Cain.

  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. 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.
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  9. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  10. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  11. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  12. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  13. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  14. 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)
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
  16. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  20. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
  21. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  22. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  23. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  24. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  25. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  26. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  27. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  28. Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).
  29. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  30. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  31. Universal Colliery Senghenydd 1913 disaster retrieved 21st September 2019, retrieved from http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/deathrolls/SenghenyddDead1913.htm
  32. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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