History of your Surname
Get access to Beckford family records.Start a free trial

Beckford Family History

Beckford Name Meaning

English: habitational name from a place now in Worcestershire (formerly in Gloucestershire) named Beckford from the Middle English name Becke (see Beck ) + Old English ford ‘ford’. This surname is most frequent in Jamaica.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Bickford, Bedford, Eckford, Belford, Rochford, Elford, Blackford

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Beckford family from?

You can see how Beckford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Beckford family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Beckford families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 16 Beckford families living in Massachusetts. This was about 44% of all the recorded Beckford's in USA. Massachusetts had the highest population of Beckford families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Beckford surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Beckford ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Beckford. 18% of Beckford men worked as a Laborer and 18% of Beckford women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Beckford were Truck Driver and Shoe Worker. .

View Census Data for Beckford | 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
    18%
  • Salesman
    13%
  • Farmer
    13%
  • Truck Driver
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    18%
  • Clerk
    11%
  • Housework
    8%
  • Shoe Worker
    8%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Beckford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 18,000 census records available for the last name Beckford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Beckford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Beckford

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Beckford. 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 Beckford immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Beckford. For the veterans among your Beckford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Beckford military records

You've only scratched the surface of Beckford family history

Discover More

What is the average Beckford lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Beckford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1981, and highest in 1972. The average life expectancy for Beckford in 1952 was 57, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Beckford

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Beckford family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Beckford last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial