Buford is an uncommon given name of American origin, derived from the Old English elements "bufe" meaning 'bow' and " ford" meaning 'ford'. It was originally a surname before becoming a given name in the 19th century. The name Buford has been associated with notable figures such as General John Buford, a Union Army commander during the American Civil War, and Buford T. Justice, a fictional character from the Smokey and the Bandit films.
"Interestingly, the name Buford experienced fluctuating popularity over these years, peaking at 10 births in 1926 and dipping as low as five births in several other years."