Ford (surname)

The surname Ford has several origins. In some cases it originated as a name for someone who lived near a ford,[1] and is therefore derived from the Old English and Middle English ford.[2] In some cases, the surname is derived from places named Ford. Examples of such places include Ford in Northumberland[3] (from Old English ford),[4] a place in Somerset,[5] Ford in Shropshire[3] (from Old English ford),[4] Ford in West Sussex[3] (from Old English ford),[4] and Forde in Dorset.[3]

In other cases, the surname is sometimes an anglicised form of three Irish surnames. Two such surnames are Mac Giolla na Naomh, a name meaning "son of Gilla na Naomh"; and Mac Conshámha, a name meaning "son of Conshnámha".[6] These surnames were anglicised Ford because their final syllable was once erroneously thought to be the Irish áth ("ford").[3] Another Irish surname anglicised Ford is Ó Fuartháin, a name meaning "descendant of Fuarthán".[7] The personal name Fuartháin, derived from the Irish fuar ("cold"), was once taken to represent the Irish fuarathán ("cold little ford"), which led the name to be erroneously translated "ford".[8] The former two Irish surnames were borne by septs centred in the province of Connacht, whilst the latter was borne by a sept centred in County Cork (in the province of Munster).[9]

In some cases the surname Ford is an americanized form of like-sounding Jewish surnames, or else a translated form of the German Fürth.[3] Early instances of the surname Ford include de la forda in the eleventh century, æt Fordan in the twelfth-century, de la Forthe in the thirteenth-century, and Foorde[5] and de Furd in the fifteenth century.[10] The surname Ford, when found in Ireland, may be of English or Irish origin since many Ford families have immigrated to Ireland at various times in history. For example, a particular noted family of the name in County Meath emigrated from Devon in the fourteenth century.[11] In Ireland, birth records for the year 1890 reveal that the surname Ford was much less common than the variant Forde (154 births compared to only 39).[12]

Contents:

* 0–9
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X
* Y
* Z

* See also
* References

## A

[edit]

* Aiden Ford, a fictional character from the television show Stargate Atlantis
* Alan Ford (actor) (born 1937), English actor
* Alan Ford (swimmer) (1923–2008), American swimmer
* Alan Ford (comics), Italian comics character
* Aleem Ford (born 1997), American-Puerto Rican basketball player
* Aleksander Ford (1908–1980), Polish film director
* Alphonso Ford (1971–2004), American basketball player
* Andrew Ford (disambiguation), several people
* Andy Ford (born 1954), English association football player and manager
* Anna Ford (born 1943), British journalist and newsreader
* Arthur Ford (disambiguation), several people

## B

[edit]

* Ben Ford (baseball) (born 1975), American baseball player
* Ben Ford (politician) (1925–2022), British politician
* Betty Ford (1918–2011), wife of former United States president Gerald Ford, and founder of the Betty Ford Center
* Boris Ford (1917–1998), Indian-born British literary critic, writer, editor and educationist
* Brian J. Ford (born 1939), English independent scientist
* Bruce Ford (disambiguation), several people
* Budd S. Ford (1840–1879), American politician from Maryland
* Byington Ford (1890–1985), American, Pebble Beach and Carmel Valley developer, aviator, son of Tirey L. Ford

## C

[edit]

* Carole Ann Ford (born 1940), English actress
* Cheryl Ford (born 1981), American basketball player
* Christine Blasey Ford (born 1966), American clinical psychology professor
* Christopher Ford, American screenwriter
* Clare Ford (1828–1899), English diplomat
* Clay Ford (1938–2013), American politician
* Clementine Ford (born 1979), American actress
* Clementine Ford (writer) (born 1981), Australian writer
* Clint Ford (born 1976), American actor and voice-over artist
* Clinton Ford (singer) (1931–2009), British singer
* Clinton B. Ford (1913–1992), American investor, musician and astronomer
* Cody Ford (born 1997), American football player
* Colin Ford (born 1996), American actor and voice actor
* Colin Ford (curator) (born 1934), British history of photography and museum director
* Colt Ford (born 1969), American Hick-Hop Artist
* Constance Ford (1923–1993), American actress and model
* Curt Ford (born 1960), American baseball player

## D

[edit]

* David Ford (actor) (1925–1983), American actor
* David Ford (footballer) (born 1945), English footballer
* David Ford (kayaker) (born 1967), Canadian whitewater slalom kayaker
* David Ford (musician) (born 1978), British singer-songwriter
* David Ford (politician) born 1951, former Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, and Minister for Justice.
* David F. Ford (born 1948), Anglican theologian
* David Robert Ford (1935–2017), British soldier and diplomat, former Chief Secretary of Hong Kong
* Dean Ford (1946–2018), stage name of Thomas McAleese, Scottish singer and songwriter, member of the band Marmalade
* Debbie Ford (1955–2013), American self-help writer
* Debra Ford, American colorectal surgeon and academic administrator
* Desmond Ford (1929–2019), Australian Christian speaker and author
* Don Ford (born 1952), American basketball player
* Donald Ford (born 1944), Scottish footballer
* Donald E. Ford (1921–1965), American science fiction editor
* Doug Ford (born 1964), current Premier of Ontario
* Doug Ford Sr. (1933–2006), Canadian politician

## E

[edit]

* E. B. Ford (1901–1988), British ecological geneticist
* Edgar Ford (1876–1943), English cricketer
* Edsel Ford (1893–1943), American businessman, president of Ford Motor Company, son of Henry Ford
* Eileen Ford (1922–2014), American model agency executive and co-founder of Ford Models
* Elena Ford (born 1966), American director within the Ford Motor Company, great-great-granddaughter of Henry Ford
* Emile Ford (1937–2016), West Indian-born musician and sound engineer

## F

[edit]

* Ford Madox Ford (1873–1939), English novelist and publisher
* Francis Ford (cricketer) (1866–1940), English cricketer
* Francis Ford Coppola (born 1939), American film director, producer, and screenwriter
* Frankie Ford (1939–2015), American singer
* Franklin Lewis Ford (1920–2003), American historian
* Fred Ford (American football) (1938–2021), American football halfback
* Frederick W. Ford (1909–1986), American Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission

## G

[edit]

* Gene Ford (1881–1973), American baseball player
* Gene Ford (pitcher, born 1912) (died 1970), American baseball player
* George Henry Ford (1808–1876), South African natural history illustrator working in Britain
* G. M. Ford (born 1945), American author
* Gerald Ford (1913–2006), 38th president of the United States
* Gerald J. Ford (born 1944), American banker
* Gerard W. Ford (1924–2008), American businessman who co-founded Ford Modeling Agency
* Gina Ford (born c. 1960), British writer on parenting methods
* Glenn Ford (1916–2006), Canadian-American actor
* Glyn Ford (born 1950), British politician
* Gordon Onslow Ford (1912–2003), British artist
* G. Sarsfield Ford (1933–2013), American jurist

## H

[edit]

* Harold Ford Sr. (born 1945), American politician
* Harold Ford Jr. (born 1970), American politician
* Harriet Ford (1863–1949), American actress and playwright
* Harrison Ford (born 1942), American actor
* Harrison Ford (silent film actor) (1884–1957), American silent film actor
* Henry Ford (1863–1947), American industrialist, founder of the Ford Motor Company
* For others, see Henry Ford (disambiguation)
* Holden Ford, a fictional character from psychological thriller Mindhunter
* Hugh Alastair Ford (born 1946), Australian ornithologist

## I

[edit]

* Isaiah Ford (born 1996), American football player

## J

[edit]

* Jack Ford (journalist), American TV reporter and host
* Jack Ford (American politician) (1947–2015), American educator and politician
* "Jack" John Gardner Ford (born 1952), American businessman and politician, son of Gerald Ford
* Jaclyn Ford, American politician
* JaMeesia Ford (born 2005), American sprinter
* James Ford (pirate) (1775–1833), Kentucky criminal gang leader
* James W. Ford (1893–1957), African American politician and Communist Party USA vice presidential candidate
* Jaylan Ford (born 2001), American football player
* Jeremiah D. M. Ford (1873–1958), American college professor at Harvard
* Jeremy Ford (chef) (born 1985), American chef
* Jerome Ford (born 1999), American football player
* John Ford (disambiguation), multiple people
* Jonathan Ford (disambiguation), multiple people
* Jordan Ford (born 1998), American basketball player
* Julian Ralph Ford (1932–1987), Australian ornithologist

## K

[edit]

* Kate Ford (born 1977), English actress
* Keith Ford (born 1994), American football player
* Kelly J. Ford, American novelist
* Kira Ford, a fictional character from Power Rangers Dino Thunder.

## L

[edit]

* L. R. Ford Jr. (1927–2017), American mathematician
* Lalatina Dustiness Ford, a fictional character from the light novel and anime KonoSuba
* Larry Ford (American football) (born 1988), American football player
* Lester R. Ford (1886–1967), American mathematician
* Lew Ford (born 1976), American professional baseball player
* Lita Ford (born 1958), British-born singer
* Loretta Ford (1920–2025), American nurse
* Louis Ford (1845–?), English businessman, football administrator and referee
* Louis Ford (footballer) (1914–1980), Welsh footballer
* Louise Ford, British comedian and actress
* Luke Ford (born 1981), Canadian-Australian actor

## M

[edit]

* Malcolm Webster Ford (1862–1902), American athlete and journalist
* Mark Ford (footballer) (born 1975), English footballer
* Melbourne H. Ford (1849–1891), U.S. Representative from Michigan
* Melyssa Ford (born 1976), Canadian model and actress
* Michael Ford (disambiguation), several people
* Mike Ford (disambiguation), several people
* Mick Ford (born 1957), British actor and playwright
* Monica Ford, American socialite

## N

[edit]

* Nick Ford (born 1999), American football player

## P

[edit]

* Paris Ford (born 1998), American football player
* Parker Ford (ice hockey) (born 2000), American ice hockey player
* Patricia Ford (disambiguation), multiple people
* Patrick Ford (disambiguation), multiple people
* Paul Ford (1901–1976), American actor
* Paul Leicester Ford (1865–1902), American novelist
* Penny Ford (born 1964), American singer
* Poona Ford (born 1995), American football player

## R

[edit]

* Richard Ford (disambiguation), several people, including:
* Richard Ford (born 1944), American writer
* Robben Ford (born 1951), American guitarist
* Robert Ford (disambiguation), several people
* Rowan Ford (1998–2007), American murder victim
* Rudy Ford (born 1994), American football player
* Russ Ford (1883–1960), American baseball player
* Russell Ford (born 1983), Australian hockey player
* Ryan Ford (disambiguation), several people

## S

[edit]

* Sallie Rochester Ford (1828–1910), American writer, newspaper editor
* Seabury Ford (1801–1855), American politician
* Seth Porter Ford (1817–1866), American physician in the Kingdom of Hawaii
* Simon Ford (born 1981), English footballer
* Stanley H. Ford (1877-1961), United States Army General
* Steven Ford (born 1956), American actor, son of Gerald Ford
* Susan Ford (born 1957), American author, photojournalist, daughter of Gerald Ford

## T

[edit]

* T. J. Ford (born 1983), NBA basketball player
* Tennessee Ernie Ford (1919–1991), American recording artist and television host
* Sir Theodore Ford (1829–1920), Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements
* Thomas Mikal Ford (1962–2016), American actor
* Tim Ford (politician) (1951–2015), Mississippi politician
* Tirey L. Ford (1857–1928), California politician and a novelist
* T-Model Ford (c. 1923–2013), American musician
* Todd Ford (born 1984), Canadian ice hockey goaltender
* Tom Ford (born 1961), American fashion designer
* Tony Ford (footballer, born 1944), English footballer
* Tony Ford (footballer, born 1959), English footballer
* Trent Ford (born 1979), British American actor and model
* Trevor Ford (1923–2003), Welsh footballer
* Trevor D. Ford, British geologist

## V

[edit]

* Vicky Ford (born 1967), British politician

## W

[edit]

* Wallace Ford (1898–1966), American actor
* Walter Burton Ford (1874–1971), American mathematician
* Walton Ford (born 1960), American watercolor painter
* Wayne Adam Ford (born 1961), American serial killer
* Wendell H. Ford (1924–2015), American politician
* Whitey Ford (1928–2020), American baseball player
* Will Ford (born 1986), American football player
* Willa Ford (born 1981), American singer-songwriter
* William Clay Ford Jr. (born 1957), American businessman, chairman of Ford Motor Company, great-grandson of Henry Ford
* William Prince Ford (1803–1866), Louisiana preacher and farmer, first slave owner of Solomon Northup
* Worthington C. Ford (1858–1941), American historian, librarian at the Library of Congress and Brown University

## See also

[edit]

* Ford (disambiguation)
* Forde (surname)
* Fforde

## References

[edit]

Notes

1. ^ Ford Family History; Reaney 2006 p. 1200; Reaney 1995 p. 174; Black 1971 pp. 271–272.
2. ^ Ford Family History; Reaney 2006 p. 1200; Reaney 1995 p. 174.
3. ^ a b c d e f Ford Family History.
4. ^ a b c Mills 2003.
5. ^ a b Reaney 2006 p. 1200; Reaney 1995 p. 174.
6. ^ Ford Family History; Grehan 1997 p. 125; The Great Families of Ireland p. 145; MacLysaght 1972 pp. 150–151.
7. ^ Ford Family History; Foran Family History; Grehan 1997 p. 124; The Great Families of Ireland p. 145; MacLysaght 1972 pp. 150–151.
8. ^ Ford Family History; Foran Family History.
9. ^ Grehan 1997 pp. 124–125; O'Laughlin 1992 p. 114; The Great Families of Ireland p. 145; MacLysaght 1972 pp. 150–151.
10. ^ Black 1971 pp. 271–272.
11. ^ Grehan 1997 p. 125; O'Laughlin 1992 p. 114; The Great Families of Ireland p. 145; MacLysaght 1972 pp. 150–151.
12. ^ The Great Families of Ireland p. 145.

Sources

* "Foran Family History". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 16 June 2014. This webpage contains an excerpt of Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press.
* "Ford Family History". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 16 June 2014. This webpage contains an excerpt of Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press.
* Black, GF (1971) [1946]. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History. New York: New York Public Library. ISBN 0-87104-172-3. Accessed via Open Library.
* Grehan, I (1997). The Dictionary of Irish Family Names. Boulder: Robert Rineheart Publishers. ISBN 1-57098-137-X. Accessed via Open Library.
* MacLysaght, E (1972). Irish Families: Their Names, Arms and Origins (3rd ed.). New York: Crown Publishers. OL 23251759M. Accessed via Open Library.
* Mills, AD (2003). A Dictionary of British Place-names (EPUB). Oxford Paperback Reference. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-852758-6.
* O'Laughlin, M (1992). The Book of Irish Families Great & Small. Kansas City: Irish Genealogical Foundation. ISBN 0-940134-08-X. Accessed via Open Library.
* Reaney, PH (2006). Wilson, RM (ed.). A Dictionary of English Surnames (3rd ed.). London: Routledge. ISBN 0-203-99355-1.
* Reaney, PH (1995). Wilson, RM (ed.). A Dictionary of English Surnames (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-8631464.
* The Great Families of Ireland. Irish Genealogical Foundation. 1981. ISBN 0-940134-11-X. Accessed via Open Library.

Surname list

This page lists people with the surname Ford.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.