Alford is a name of English origin that has been used throughout history. The name comes from the Old English words "alf" meaning elf or warrior and "fordin" meaning ford or river crossing. Therefore, Alford can be interpreted as "elf ruler" or "warrior at the river crossing".
The name was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as Alvred. Over time, the spelling evolved into Alfurd, Alfred and finally Alford.
Alford has been used consistently throughout history, with notable bearers including Alford de Lisle, a knight who fought in the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and Sir Alford Truman, an English politician and merchant who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1427.
Today, Alford is still used as a given name but has become less common. It is considered a strong and distinctive name with a rich history behind it.
The name Alford has been given to babies born in the United States for over a century, with fluctuations in its popularity throughout the years. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the name had modest popularity, with between 9 and 30 births per year from 1880 to 1925.
Interestingly, the name Alford experienced a significant increase in popularity during World War I. From 1914 to 1919, there were over 60 births each year, peaking at 90 births in 1919. This trend continued into the early 1920s, with consistently high numbers of babies named Alford until around 1925.
However, after reaching its peak popularity, the name Alford began to decline in usage as a baby name in the United States. By the late 1940s and early 1950s, fewer than 30 babies were being named Alford each year. This downward trend continued through the mid-1960s, with an average of around 20 to 40 births per year.
In recent decades, the name Alford has remained quite rare in the United States. From the late 1980s to present day (2019), fewer than 15 babies were named Alford each year, with some years seeing as few as five births. Despite its current rarity, it's possible that the name Alford could experience a resurgence in popularity in future years.
In conclusion, while the name Alford has not been among the most popular baby names in the United States throughout history, it has had periods of modest to significant popularity, particularly during and immediately after World War I. Today, the name is quite rare but continues to be given to a small number of babies each year.