Buford is a name of English origin that has a long and interesting history. It is derived from the Old English word "bufa," which means "bow" or "crooked." The name was initially used to describe someone who had a bow-shaped nose or who was crooked in some way.
The first recorded use of the name Buford can be traced back to the 13th century in England. It was typically given as a surname, but over time, it began to be used as a given name as well. In fact, one of the earliest known uses of the name Buford as a given name is from the 17th century in the United States.
Buford has also been associated with notable figures throughout history. For example, John Buford was a Union Army general during the American Civil War who played a significant role in the Battle of Gettysburg. Additionally, Buford T. Pusser was an American law enforcement officer and moonshine runner whose life inspired the 1973 film "Walking Tall."
Today, Buford is still used as both a given name and a surname, particularly in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Despite its original meaning of "bow" or "crooked," people named Buford are not necessarily known for having any particular physical characteristics or personality traits. Instead, they carry on a proud tradition of an historic name with a unique origin story.
Statistics on the given name Buford in the United States from 1905 to 1949 show a varying number of births each year, ranging from as few as five to as many as fifteen. The highest numbers of births occurred between 1920 and 1925, with peaks in 1921 (15 births) and 1925 (15 births). After the mid-1930s, the number of annual births began to decline, with fewer than ten births per year from 1936 onwards. The total number of Buford births during this period was 265.