Surname Mugford - Meaning and Origin
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Mugford: What does the surname Mugford mean?
The last name Mugford is believed to be a habitational name derived from places in Devon and Somerset in England. It is thought to have originated as the name of a hamlet or small village which is now unknown. The name is believed to come from the Old English word, "mucga," meaning "an area of marshland where pigs are kept," and the Old English word, "ford," meaning "ford, a shallow place in a body of water where one could cross on foot."
The surname may also have been derived from the Anglo-Saxon word, "mucg," meaning "a marsh," and the Latin word, "ford," meaning "ford, a shallow place in a body of water where one could cross on foot." This origin would result in an overall meaning of “a marshy place with a ford."
The earliest known occurrence of the surname is from the mid-13th century, where Simon de Mugford is mentioned in a deed dated in 1260. This suggests that members of this family were living in England at a relatively early date. It has continued to be used in England to the present day.
The Mugfords have had a notable presence in Devon for many centuries. A prominent member of the family was Sir John Mugford, who was knighted in 1603 by James I of England. He was respected as a landowner and magistrate in Devon. Nowadays, the surname is quite rare around the world, having seen a decline in frequency since its highest occurrence in the mid-19th century.
Order DNA origin analysisMugford: Where does the name Mugford come from?
The last name Mugford is found most commonly in England today, especially in the South West. The name is derived from the Olde English "Mugg", which was a short form of "Mugge" meaning beloved one. It can also be derived from the Olde English word "Mogg" which means the land of one's birth.
The Mugford name can be found most often in Devon and Cornwall counties of England. The last name has generational presence in these counties as the Mugford's trace their ancestry to the early settlers of Devonshire, which was established in 906.
There are also sparse sightings of the name Mugford throughout North America, specifically in the United States and Canada. People of the Mugford name migrated across the Atlantic Ocean in the early 17th century during the colonization of North America and the industrial revolution in Britain.
Today, the Mugford name is relatively easy to find through genealogical records. The majority of Mugfords in England are born and reside in Devon and Cornwall. Immigration, however, has spread the name to many other countries in the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany.
Variations of the surname Mugford
Mugford is an English surname of Saxon origin. Derived from the Old English words ‘mugg,’ meaning “soft soil,” and ‘ford’ meaning “a shallow part of a river that can be forded or crossed on foot,” it is thought to have originally referred to someone who lived near a shallow ford or crossing over a river. This surname is spelled in many different ways, including Muggford, Muggeford, Muggerford, Mugferd, Mugfurth, and Mofford.
Variants of the name Mugford are also found in Scotland, Germany, and France. In Scotland, the variants include Minchford, Maundford, and Pincfurt. In Germany, these variations can be spelled as Muggerdorf or Mugerfurt. While in France, the most common variant is Mouflard.
It is also important to note that many families bearing the Mugford surname carry it as a secondary name or as part of a double-barrelled surname. For example, Mugford-Brown, Mugford-Smith, and Mugford-Jones are all quite common surname combinations in some regions.
Despite its many spellings and derivatives, Mugford is a very rare surname. The surname is most commonly found in the southwestern and western regions of England, where it was first recorded. Researchers estimate that fewer than 500 people living today have the name, though it is possible that a larger number may exist outside of the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Mugford
- Gavin Mugford, British journalist and author
- Kamryn Mugford, Canadian country music singer
- Ricky Mugford, British sculptor and muralist
- Brad Mugford, Canadian politician
- Michael Mugford, English former footballer
- Joseph Mugford, English cricketer
- Sarah Mugford, Australian Paralympic athlete
- Christine Mugford, British long-distance runner
- Simon Mugford, British documentary filmmaker
- Alexander Mugford, British violinist and conductor