Surname Mumfort - Meaning and Origin

Mumfort: What does the surname Mumfort mean?

The surname Mumfort has an English origin and is categorized as a geographical name, often given to people based on their place of residence or birth. The name is derived from the Old English words "Mund" and "Ford," translated as "protection" or "defense" and "river crossing," respectively. Therefore, the name Mumfort is often interpreted to mean “protected river crossing” or "a ford that provides safety." Locational or geographical surnames like Mumfort usually emerged in medieval times when people migrated and began to adopt names referring to their homeland or place of residence as a form of identity. The name also has various spelling variations like Mumford, Munford, and Mundford. It's also important to note that surnames' meanings can evolve over time, taking on cultural and familial significance beyond their original geographical or occupational origins.

Mumfort: Where does the name Mumfort come from?

Mumford is a surname derived from the English topographical name for someone from Momford, a village in the district of Shropshire. It is still relatively common today, especially in its various spellings such as Mompford, Mumpforde and Mumpherd. In recent years, Mumford has gained popularity as a celebrity name and baby name, due to its association with the folk rock band Mumford & Sons.

The highest concentrations of this surname in the United States are found in Arizona, South Dakota, Nebraska and New Hampshire. The largest population of the surname Mumford, however, is in the United Kingdom, where it is the 3,488th most common surname and the 91st most common in London. In England, Mumford is most common in counties such as Warwickshire, Derbyshire, and Derbyshire.

Historically, the name Mumford is thought to derive from a Norman French pre-conquest of England family from Magnefords in the arrondissement of Caen, Normandy. The earliest records of the name in England were from the 12th century and it was found mainly in the Midlands counties such as Huntingdonshire and Oxfordshire as well as parts of Derbyshire.

Today, Mumford is still a popular surname, especially in England. It is also quite common in the United States, Australia, Canada, Wales, Scotland, New Zealand, and some other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Mumfort

Mumfort is a surname of English origin. Over the years, it has been spelled in a variety of ways, including Momford, Mumford, Mumfurd, Mumfurde, Mumfarte, Moomford, Mumberson, and Mumper.

The surname likely originated from the old English word “mumford,” which is a form of “mummer,” which referred to a person who changed his appearance. It’s believed that any of these spellings would have been in existence by the 12th century.

The surname can also be found in various other countries. In Scotland, the name is spelled Momford or Momfurde, while in Germany the spelling can be Mumberson or Mumburg. In Australia and New Zealand it is more common to use Mumper.

The most common spelling today, however, is Mumford. And it is most likely the spelling that has been most commonly used for several centuries. While the spelling may vary from country to country, and region to region, it is still likely to be descended from the same original form.

Whether spelled Mumfort, Momford, Mumford, or any of its variants; this surname is certainly of distinct English origin. It is a reminder of a time long past, when a person's identity could change without the need of a court order, and a time more broadly, when a name could simply evolve – or even migrate to the New World.

Famous people with the name Mumfort

• Elizabeth Murray, Baroness of electric pop art advances
• William Murray, the 5th Earl and1st Earl of Dunmore
• George Henry Murray, American lawyer, Baptist minister, and diplomat
• Abigail Murray, poet
• Richard Murray, co-founder of the Royal Society of Medicine
• Florence Murray, Countess of Dunmore
• Thomas Murray, British East India Company army officer
• Leonard Woodcock, President of the United Auto Workers
• Edward Denison-Mumford, English mathematician
• Alice Mumford, American author

Other surnames

Mumford