Winford is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word "win" meaning "friend" or "joy", and "ford" which refers to a shallow place in a river where people could cross by wading or driving animals across. Therefore, Winford can be interpreted as "place where friends meet" or "joyful crossing".
The name Winford has a rich history dating back to medieval England. It was often used as a surname before becoming popular as a given name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some notable individuals with the surname Winford include Sir William Winford, an English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War, and Mary Winford, an English poet of the 17th century.
Today, Winford is still a rare but meaningful name choice for parents looking to give their child a distinctive and historic moniker. It has a classic yet unique sound that sets it apart from more common names while still being easy to pronounce and spell. For those who appreciate history and culture, Winford offers an excellent opportunity to bestow upon one's child a name with deep roots in English heritage.
The name Winford has seen a varied history of popularity over the years in the United States, as indicated by the birth statistics provided.
From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, the name Winford was given to around 5-7 newborns per year. However, it began to gain traction around the early 1910s, with a significant spike in popularity between 1912 and 1913, during which time over 60 births were recorded each year.
The name reached its peak popularity in the United States in 1928, with a total of 116 newborns being named Winford that year. This trend continued into the early 1930s, with around 90-110 babies named Winford annually. However, it began to decline thereafter, with fewer than 100 births recorded each year from 1934 onwards.
By the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, the name's popularity continued to decrease steadily, with around 50-60 births per year. This trend persisted into the 1960s, although there was a slight increase in the number of newborns named Winford during this decade.
The latter half of the 20th century saw an even more significant decline in the popularity of the name Winford. From the 1970s onwards, fewer than 30 babies were named Winford each year. This trend has continued into the 21st century, with only six births recorded in recent years (2009).
Overall, while the name Winford was once quite popular, particularly during the early to mid-20th century, its usage as a given name for newborns in the United States has become increasingly rare over time.