Wofford
A surname most likely from an old English place-name, later reshaped in spelling over time.
The #4,011 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 34,863 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Wofford is generally treated as a locational surname, probably from a now-lost or altered English place-name. The first element is often explained as an Old English personal name or possibly a stream-related element, while the second element is likely Old English 'ford,' meaning a river crossing. As with many English surnames that passed through centuries of regional spelling variation, the exact original place is not certain.
History
The name is well established in English-speaking countries, especially the United States, where it appears to have been carried by early immigrants and then continued through regional family lines. Spellings could shift as clerks wrote names phonetically, which helps explain the modern form Wofford alongside related variants. Because the underlying place-name is uncertain, its early history is partly reconstructive rather than firmly documented.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The ending '-ford' is one of the most common clues to English place-based surnames, usually pointing to a river crossing.