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Balford Family History

Balford Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Galford, Walford, Bamford, Alford, Halford, Belford, Banford, Basford

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Balford family from?

You can see how Balford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Balford family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Balford families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1880 there were 6 Balford families living in Michigan. This was about 25% of all the recorded Balford's in USA. Michigan had the highest population of Balford families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Balford surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Balford ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Balford. 25% of Balford men worked as a Laborer and 34% of Balford women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Balford were Manager and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Balford | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    25%
  • Farmer
    25%
  • Miner
    17%
  • Manager
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    34%
  • Teacher
    34%
  • Housewife
    34%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Balford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Balford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Balford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Balford

Passenger Lists

There are 244 immigration records available for the last name Balford. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Balford immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 110 military records available for the last name Balford. For the veterans among your Balford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Balford military records

You've only scratched the surface of Balford family history

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What is the average Balford lifespan?

Between 1979 and 2000, in the United States, Balford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1994, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Balford in 1979 was 61, and 64 in 2000.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Balford

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Balford family tree

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