Linford is an uncommon given name of English origin. It is derived from Old English elements 'lin', meaning flax, and 'ford', referring to a river crossing. Thus, the name translates to "ford where flax grows." Linford was historically used as a surname in England, but it has evolved into a given name in some cases. The name gained some notable recognition through the British athlete Linford Christie, who won multiple Olympic medals and World Championships in track and field events during his career.
The name Linford experienced a notable peak in popularity during the early to mid-20th century, with a significant number of births occurring between 1918 and 1946. However, its usage has since declined steadily, with less than 10 births per year recorded from the late 1970s onwards. Despite this decline, Linford continues to be used occasionally, as indicated by the intermittent births recorded up until 2019.