This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Hefford family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Hefford Family History

Hefford Surname Meaning

The name is a variant of Hayford. This is sometimes a dialect pronunciation of Hawford or Hawforth (see Halford and Alford) as suggested by William Hefford.

Historical records show instances such as Elizab Hawford in 1617 from IGI in Peatling Magna, Leics; Robert Heyford in 1627; Nathaniel Halford in 1629; Samuell Heferd in 1675; and Ann Heford in 1733, all recorded in IGI, specifically from Husbands Bosworth, Leics.

Further evidence includes Nathaniel Halford in 1702, John Hawford in 1706, and John Heffer in 1719, as noted in IGI from Wellingborough, Northants.

The variation in the vowel pronunciation would have arisen from the common phonetic change of -aw- to -ay-, which later simplified to -e-.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Hefford family from?

You can see how Hefford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hefford family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Hefford families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 99 Hefford families living in Northamptonshire. This was about 25% of all the recorded Hefford's in United Kingdom. Northamptonshire had the highest population of Hefford families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hefford surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Hefford ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Hefford. 20% of Hefford men worked as a Builders Labourer and 83% of Hefford women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Hefford were Retired and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Hefford | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Builders Labourer
    20%
  • General Labourer
    15%
  • Railway Clerk
    15%
  • Retired
    15%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dutie
    3%
  • Household Duties
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%

What Hefford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Hefford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hefford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Hefford

Passenger Lists

There are 728 immigration records available for the last name Hefford. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Hefford immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 734 military records available for the last name Hefford. For the veterans among your Hefford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hefford military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hefford family history

Discover More

What is the average Hefford lifespan?

Between 1970 and 1999, in the United States, Hefford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1995, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Hefford in 1970 was 84, and 79 in 1999.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hefford

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Hefford ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Hefford family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial