The Sanford surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 36,312 people carried this name — #957 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 8,120 people counted. That is up 2% from 35,565 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Sanford surname

A habitational surname from Old English.

Reduced variant of Sandford.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Sanford» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Sandford’.

An early record he cites: Richard de Sanford, Oxfordshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Sandford, Sandiford and Sanford.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 666 · public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 26 people named Sanford.

3 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 4 départements, most often French Polynesia.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 3
French Polynesia 17
Oise 4
Guadeloupe 1
Wallis and Futuna 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

235 families named Sanford, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,337 people lived in those households, 5.7 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 4 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Connecticut 101
New York 43
Massachusetts 23
Rhode Island 21
Virginia 17
Vermont 11
South Carolina 7
North Carolina 5
Maine 3
Pennsylvania 3
Maryland 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 260 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Sanford in American newspapers,
1904.

Newspaper page from The Montgomery Advertiser carrying the name Sanford
The Montgomery Advertiser 1904-12-18
Newspaper page from The Montgomery Advertiser carrying the name Sanford
The Montgomery Advertiser 1904-12-17
Newspaper page from The Montgomery Advertiser carrying the name Sanford
The Montgomery Advertiser 1904-12-18

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Sanford in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

4,988 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Sanford. The most, 2,105, date from the 1900s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 1.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 1,481
Victoria 970
Western Australia 819
South Australia 732
Queensland 638
Tasmania 292
ACT (Canberra) 37
Northern Territory 3

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Sanford.

Who carried it

People named Sanford,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Hugh Sanford d. 1607 · politician
  • Thomas Jacob Sanford d. 2025 · murderer
  • Charlotte Ayshford Sanford d. 1904
  • George Sanford d. 1843
  • Desmond Sanford d. 2013
  • Anne Sanford d. 1807

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Sanford,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,970 records

2,970 records of the Sanford name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,248
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 615
  • Other U.S. records 1,107
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record James Russell Sanford

    Born 1949; from Xenia, Ohio. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1968 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam. Buried at Cherry Grove Cemetery, Xenia, Ohio.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Mary Sanford

    Born 1914 in Texas. Enlisted 1942 in the Women's Army Corps at Dallas; laundry worker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2001, buried at Dallas - Fort Worth National Cemetery, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Ellen Sanford

    Arrived at New York in 1852 aboard the Persian from Liverpool, aged 22; servant. From Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 2,970 records for Sanford in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada1,699 records

1,699 records of the Sanford name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 1,648
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 21
  • Other Canadian records 30
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Marion Sanford

    Died 1978, aged 63; buried at Transcona Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Minnie Blanche Sanford

    Died 1962 in Wolfville, Kings, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Maurice Knowlton Sanford

    Died in service in 1943.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 1,699 records for Sanford in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

Australia82 records

82 records of the Sanford name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 30
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 26
  • Other Australian records 26
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Frederic Sanford

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Somersetshire, sailing from Plymouth in 1841. Native of Jersey.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record James Sanford

    Arrived in Victoria in 1853 aboard the Fanny, aged 37; American.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Marjorie Sanford

    Gentlewoman of Flinders, Victoria; died 1947.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 82 records for Sanford in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand10 records

10 records of the Sanford name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 9
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Emma Louise Sanford

    Died 1932, aged 79; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Jane Sanford

    Buried in 1912 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 39.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Trevor Sanford

    Died 1996, aged 76; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 10 records for Sanford in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom7 records

7 records of the Sanford name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 6
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 1
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record G. Sanford

    Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. Sanford

    Gloucestershire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record H. C. Sanford

    Driver, Army Service Corps. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Sanford in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

France4 records

4 records of the Sanford name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Lewis Sanford

    Born 1929 in Good Hope (Dominique); died 1997 in Fort-de-France (Martinique).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Muriel Marie Sanford

    Born 1939 in Dominique; died 1992 in Les Abymes (Guadeloupe).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Georges Charles Thomas Sanford

    Born 1915 in Chantilly; died 1987 in Lamorlaye (Oise).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 4 records for Sanford in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands1 record

1 record of the Sanford name in the Netherlands Dutch church registers before 1811
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Abel Sanford

    Married in 1706 in Breda.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Sanford.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Sanford is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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