indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Type Surname (from location)
Usage English
Other Forms FormsRadford, Ratford, Rochefort, Rochford, Wratchford
Meaning & History
habitational name from Rochford (Worcestershire) from Old English ræcc ‘hunting dog’ (genitive ræcces) and ford "ford". Or from Rochford (Essex). Early forms of the name ending in Ro- suggest that the place name derives from Old English hrōc "rook" or the Old English personal name Hroca and Old English ford "ford" but the 13th century forms in Ra- and Re- suggest that the first element is Old English ræcc "hunting dog".