Contents [hide]

Ford History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Ford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

As an Irish surname, Ford was an Anglicized version of three different Gaelic names: "Mac Giolla Naomh," meaning "son of the devotee of the saints" was a Sept that originated in southern Connemara. The name also comes from "Mac Consnámha," or "son of the swimming hound." This Connacht Sept has also been Anglicized as Kinneavy. Lastly, in Cork, the name was an Anglicized version of "Fuaráin", though more often it was Anglicized as Foran. There are also many Irish bearers of this name, who are ultimately of English origin. The English name comes from the Old English word "ford," which denotes a shallow section of a river, where it can be crossed. One large family came to County Meath from Devon in the 14th century where they became large land-holders.

Early Origins of the Ford family

The surname Ford was first found in Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), and in County Cork where several distinct Irish Septs all came to be known by the English name Ford.

Early History of the Ford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ford research. Another 55 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1355 and 1604 are included under the topic Early Ford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ford Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ford, Forde and others.

Early Notables of the Ford family

Notable among the family name at this time was

Sir Ambrose Forde, who was knighted at Leixlip by Sir Geroge Cary, Lord Deputy on Aug 2, 1604

Ford World Ranking

In the United States, the name Ford is the 102^nd most popular surname with an estimated 203,934 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Ford is ranked the 327^th most popular surname with an estimated 13,741 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Ford is the 142^nd popular surname with an estimated 267 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Ford as 111^st with 24,223 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Ford as 152^nd with 3,307 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Ford as 116^th with 42,269 people. 6

Ford migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ford Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. Robert Ford, who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1607 7
William Ford, from London, from London, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship "Fortune" 8
Miss Martha Ford, from London, from London, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship "Fortune" 8
Ms. Martha Ford, (widow), from London, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship "Fortune" 8
Mary Ford, aged 17, who arrived in Nantucket, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Mary & John" 8
... (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 8
Christopher Ford, who arrived in Virginia in 1711 8
Ale Ford, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 8
Matthew Ford, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 8
Richard Ford, who arrived in Maryland in 1740 8
... (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 8
George Ford, aged 25, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1812 8
Robert Ford, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1812 8
Benjamin Ford, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1832 8
Sam Ford, who arrived in North America in 1832 8
... (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

Mrs. Mary Ford, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9

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 10
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 11
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 12
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 13
Francis Ford, English convict from Leicester, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 14
... (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. 15

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 16
Mr. Tristram Ford, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling from Gravesend, England aboard the ship "Falcon" arriving in Barbados in 1636 17

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
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
Douglas Michael "Doug" Ford Sr. (1922-2018), born Douglas Michael Fortunato, an American professional PGA golfer, two-time major golf champion from West Haven, Connecticut
... (Another 25 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Ford family +

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 18
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 18
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 18

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Reginald Ford, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 19
Mr. Herbert G Ford, British Petty Office Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 19

HMS Repulse

Mr. Derek Rowland Ford, British Midshipman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 20
Mr. Cecil W M Ford, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 20

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 21

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 22

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 23
Mr. John Ford, English Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 23

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 24
Mr. F. Ford (d. 1912), aged 37, English Bedroom Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24
Mr. H. Ford (d. 1912), aged 22, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24
Mr. Thomas Ford (d. 1912), aged 30, English Leading Fireman from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24
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 24
... (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
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
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

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 25
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 25

The Ford Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Lucrum Christi mihi
Motto Translation: Without Christ, there is no light.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
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)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
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
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
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
Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html