Gilford
Meaning of Gilford
Gilford, rendered in contemporary English as /ˈɡɪl.fərd/, is a masculine appellation of English locational provenance, rooted in the Old English elements gild (‘tribute, payment’) and ford (‘river crossing’) and originally denoting residence at a guild-linked ford. Its adoption as a surname in medieval records imbues the name with associations of communal organization and geographical anchorage, reflecting an Anglo-Saxon heritage of structured society meeting natural topology. In the United States, Gilford’s statistical trajectory reveals a low-frequency yet persistent presence throughout the twentieth century, with ranking peaks in the 500s during the 1940s and 1950s and a modest resurgence in the early 1980s around the mid-600s—patterns that underscore its status as a distinctive choice for parents seeking a name of understated tradition. Technically, its phonemic profile—marked by an initial velar plosive and an unstressed second syllable—reinforces a classical, unpretentious character consonant with formal Anglo-American naming conventions.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as GIL-ford (/ˈɡɪl.fərd/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
