Surname Tillford - Meaning and Origin
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Tillford: What does the surname Tillford mean?
The origins of the last name Tillford are not entirely clear, although it is likely of Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Scottish, or Irish descent. It is believed to be a topographic or occupational surname, derived from where or how a person lived or worked. It is also possible that the surname Tillford is a habitational name from a place such as Tillford in Surrey, England, or Tillford in Bedfordshire.
The surname Tillford may be derived from the Old English words “till”, which means a “furrow” or “furrowed land”, and “ford”, which refers to a shallow crossing. This would make the meaning of the surname “one who lives or works near a furrowed crossing”.
Alternatively, the name Tillford could be a variant spelling of another English name, such as “Tillverd” or “Tillward”, which could be derived from the Old English “till”, for a “furrow or boundary”, and “weard”, which means to “guard” or “protect”. Together, these would make the meaning of the surname “one who guards or protects a boundary”.
Whatever its roots, the surname Tillford has developed a strong lineage in Norfolk, England, dating back to the 15th century. It remains a popular surname today, and can be found in both its original spelling and its variant spellings.
Order DNA origin analysisTillford: Where does the name Tillford come from?
The last name Tillford is most commonly found today in the United States, particularly in the Midwestern and Southern states such as Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas. The name may also be found in smaller numbers throughout other states as well. In England, it is more likely to be spelled Tyllford, which is the more common spelling in that area.
The origin of the Tillford surname is unclear. It likely comes from a combination of two Middle English words: tyll, meaning ‘till’ (a moist soil, as found near rivers and streams) and ford (an easily crossed part of a river or other body of water). Therefore, the surname’s origin could be interpreted as a reference to a place where one could cross a river, and the ground nearby would be soft and moist due to the water.
Tillford may also have been used to denote someone who lived near or worked in a tilled field, one where crops had recently been sown or grains milled. Additionally, it is possible that the name was derived from a number of different locations where similar etymological clues are found.
Regardless of where the name came from, the last name Tillford is fairly popular today. Depending on where you’re searching, you may find the name’s spelling varied slightly from Tillford to Tyllford. People with the last name Tillford are spread all over the United States and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Tillford
The origin of the surname Tillford is English and its variants include Tilford, Tilfurd, and Tilforde. All of these spellings have been documented historically in records in England, as well as in other parts of the United Kingdom.
Tillford is most frequently seen in English records written as Tillford or Tilford, particularly in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Warwickshire. The name is derived from the Old English words 'tyllen', meaning 'to construct or make', and 'ford' meaning 'ford bridge or crossing'. The 'Till-' in this context comes from the Old English 'tillen', for 'to construct', indicating that the original bearer of the name may have been associated with the construction of a Ford or bridge.
The spelling variants Tilfurd and Tilforde are found predominately in Scottish records, where they mainly appear in the counties of Midlothian, Fife and Lanarkshire. It is likely that these spellings are derived from a Scottish version of the English name.
The English version of the surname has also been used as a patronymic to form the surnames Tillfordson, Tilfordson, Tilfurdson and Tilforde-son in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Famous people with the name Tillford
- Jeff Tillford: a professional endurance athlete and mountain runner from Fort Collins, Colorado.
- Kay Tillford: an English actress who appeared in television, film, and radio.
- Paul Tillford: an American football player who was selected in the 2000 NFL Draft.
- David Tillford: a former British speedway rider and the winner of two individual World Championships.
- Andrew Tillford: an American singer-songwriter and producer who was featured in an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
- Robert Tillford: a basketball player who played in the NBA for the Boston Celtics and Seattle SuperSonics.
- Paul Tillford Jr.: a professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer who competed in the UFC’s Lightweight division.
- Jack Tillford: a professional cyclist who competed in the Tour de France.
- Jessica Tillford: an American figure skater who won two U.S. national championships.
- Kenneth Tillford: an American writer and historian who authored several books about African-American history.