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Rayford Family History

Rayford Surname Meaning

English: perhaps a variant of Rayfield; compare Raffel. This surname is now rare in Britain. English: perhaps a habitational name from a lost place in Devon recorded as Wreyford in 134 The place may take its name from the river Wray + Old English ford ‘ford’. Probably an Americanized form of German Reifarth Raifarth or Reifert from a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements rīc ‘power(ful)’ + frid ‘peace’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Rayford family from?

You can see how Rayford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rayford family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Rayford families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 21 Rayford families living in London. This was about 25% of all the recorded Rayford's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Rayford families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rayford surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Rayford ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Rayford. 56% of Rayford women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Rayford | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    56%
  • Housewife
    23%
  • Private Means
    23%

What Rayford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Rayford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rayford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rayford

Passenger Lists

There are 212 immigration records available for the last name Rayford. 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 Rayford immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Rayford. For the veterans among your Rayford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rayford military records

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What is the average Rayford lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Rayford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 1962. The average life expectancy for Rayford in 1949 was 29, and 64 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rayford

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rayford 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.

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