Weatherford
A locational surname probably referring to someone from a ford known for weather exposure or a place called Weatherford.
The #4,016 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 34,887 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Weatherford is an English locational surname built from "weather" plus "ford." In surname use, it most likely referred to someone who lived by, or came from, a river crossing exposed to the weather, or from a place later named Weatherford. The first element is straightforward, while the second is the common Old English and Middle English word for a shallow river crossing.
History
The surname is best understood as a place-based English name that later became established in English-speaking countries, especially the United States. It is also found as a place name in the U.S., which may have reinforced surname use there. Because no historical dictionary excerpt was supplied, the precise original locality behind the name cannot be pinned down confidently.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Weatherford is also the name of several American towns, which can make the surname and place name easy to confuse in family research.