Surname Lankford - Meaning and Origin
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read moreLankford: What does the surname Lankford mean?
The surname Lankford has English origins and is particularly traced back to the medieval era. The name's meaning is derived from the Old English elements 'lang' or 'long', and 'ford', which translates to 'river crossing'. This suggests that the name initially could've been attributed to people living near or named after a long shallow river crossing. Consequently, the surname might denote somebody living near this type of geographical feature. Toponymic surnames like Lankford were often given to local landowners and the lords of the manor, and the majority of times, such names reflected the origin or significant landmarks near the first bearer's home or estate. Therefore, different people bearing the last name Lankford might not necessarily share a common ancestor. Over time, variations in the name's spelling, such as Langford, might have emerged due to phonetic and regional differences.
Order DNA origin analysisLankford: Where does the name Lankford come from?
The surname Lankford is of Old English origin, derived from a place name. It likely originated from the names of settlements such as Langford in Bedfordshire or Norfolk or Longford in Derbyshire, Warwickshire, or Gloucestershire. These place names translate roughly to "long ford," with "ford" indicating a shallow part of a river or stream where it could be crossed by wading.
The Lankford surname began appearing in documented records in England as early as the 13th century. After the 1600s, with the advent of British colonialism, the surname spread to other parts of the world, notably the United States.
Today, the last name Lankford is most common in the United States, particularly in the southern states. It can also still be found in the United Kingdom, although it is less common there. According to current census data, Lankford ranks as the 3,796th most common surname in the United States and the 34,932nd most common surname in England. It is also occasionally found in other English-speaking countries such as Canada and Australia.
Variations of the surname Lankford
The surname Lankford has several variants and alternative spellings that are primarily influenced by regional dialects, colloquial pronunciation, and even historical transcription errors. These include: Langford, Lancford, Lankeford, Lanckford, Langfort, Langforth, and Longford.
Among these, Langford is the most common variant and is often used interchangeably with Lankford. The variants can also be structured differently with additional components such as "de", "von", or "van", which often indicates a place of origin (e.g., De Langford, Van Langford, etc.).
In most cases, these surnames share the same origin. The name is of English origin and associated with different places named Langford in England. The name essentially means "long ford" symbolizing a long shallow river crossing. Occasionally, the surname is also adapted by non-English speaking families when they migrate to English-speaking regions, leading to more name variations.
Quite uncommonly, the surname also morphs into further extended version such as Langford-Smith, Langford-Jones etc, as a result of marriage or to differentiate from others with same surnames. In some rare cases, Lankford could be slightly altered to unrelated surnames due to variant pronunciation or transcription errors.
Famous people with the name Lankford
- John W. Lankford Jr., a former US Senator from Virginia who was a member of the Constitutional Party.
- Casper Lankford, an American military officer who served in both World Wars.
- Colin Lankford, a British film director and producer.
- Ruth Lankford, an American psychologist and activist.
- Gregg Lankford, an American actor who had roles in films such as "Steel Magnolias" and "The Firm".
- David Lankford, an American writer and producer.
- John Lankford, an American record producer and songwriter.
- Roger Lankford, an American professional basketball player.
- Jimmy Lankford, an American professional baseball player.
- George Lankford, an American chemist and father of the American parchment paper industry.
- Rebecca Lankford, an American jewelry designer that creates handmade jewelry.
- Delano Lankford, an American professional basketball player.
- Rita Lankford, an American actress who starred in "Everybody Loves Raymond".
- Alex Lankford, an American artist and art professor.
- E.J. Lankford, an American musician and songwriter.
- George Lankford, an American country music singer and songwriter.
- Mark Lankford, an American police officer and actor who appeared in films such as "The Last Boy Scout" and "Last Man Standing".
- Anne Lankford, an American pop-rock musician and artist.
- Maria Lankford, a British actress who appeared in films such as "Gosford Park" and "Match Point".
- Jason Lankford, an American actor who appeared in "The Hunger Games" and "X-Men: The Last Stand".