Stafford

English

Alternative forms

• de Stafford (archaic)
• Strafford

Etymology

From Middle English Stafford.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstæfə(ɹ)d/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Proper noun

Stafford

1. A placename:
   1. A town in and the county town of Staffordshire, England.
   2. The Borough of Stafford, a local government district in Staffordshire formed in 1974, with its headquarters in the county town.
   3. A place in the United States:
      1. An unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California.
      2. A town in Tolland County, Connecticut.
      3. A minor city in Stafford County, Kansas, named after Lewis Stafford, a Civil War casualty.
      4. An unincorporated community in Holt County, Nebraska.
      5. A town in Genesee County, New York.
      6. A village in Monroe County, Ohio.
      7. A city in Fort Bend County and Harris County, Texas.
      8. A census-designated place, the county seat of Stafford County, Virginia; also known as Stafford Courthouse.
   4. A suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
   5. An industrial suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa.
2. An English habitational surname from the place name.
3. (rare) An unknown-gender given name transferred from the surname

Derived terms

• Stafford County
• Stafford knot
• Staffordshire

Noun

Stafford (plural Staffords)

1. A Staffordshire bull terrier.
   • 2016 October 6, Clare Damodaran, “Staffords are a loyal and lovable breed that are great with children. Digger had a great time on the walk playing with the other dogs and enjoying the lovely weather.”, in Daily Record‎^[1]:

     Staffords are a loyal and lovable breed that are great with children. Digger had a great time on the walk playing with the other dogs and enjoying the lovely weather.

   • 2018 August 7, “Staffordshire Bull Terrier”, in DogTime‎^[2]:

     Like all terriers, Staffords are diggers, so it is important to reinforce fences by embedding them in concrete or burying chicken wire at the bottom to prevent escapes.

   • 2019 March 12, Eleanor Ovens, “Crufts 2019: South Cumbria's winners and contenders”, in The Mail‎^[3]:

     Staffords are an amazing breed to own and to be invited to compete at crufts is an honour.

Middle English

Etymology

From staithe (“landing place”) + ford.

Proper noun

Stafford

1. A placename
2. a habitational surname

Alternative forms

• (surname): de Stafford

Descendants

• Anglo-Norman: de Stafford
  • Norman: de Stafford
• English: Stafford
• Yola: Staffort, Staafforthe

References

• “Stafford, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.