Telford Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Telford last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Telford last name
Meaning of the Telford last name: cut iron. Telford is an English and Scottish surname from Norman French taillefer, "cut iron", a nickname for a strong fighter. The engineer Thomas Telford, born in Dumfriesshire, built bridges, canals and roads, and the new town of Telford in Shropshire is named after him. This last name is found in Scotland and Cumbria.
Arms associated with the Telford name
Coats of arms associated with the Telford surname follow English heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.
Get your full Telford family history
This is only a glimpse of the Telford story. The full Telford history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Telford coat of arms. Get the full Telford report.
Telford name FAQ
What does the Telford name mean?
Cut iron. Common variants include Taillefer, Tolver.
Where does the Telford surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Telford coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Telford coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).