The name Alford appears to derive from the Saxon "alde ford" referring to the "old ford" across
 the River Dee above Chester, Cheshire.  In the eleventh century there was a mention of 
"Ricardus, Dominus de Aldeford" or Richard, Lord of the Old Ford.  Descent is unclear to:

Robert de Aldford of Aldford Castle, Cheshire c.1450

Thomas Alford of Holt, Denbighshire, Wales, married Jane daughter of John Salisbury

John Alford of Holt married Elizabeth daughter of Sir Bryan Withyforth

John Alford of Holt married Elizabeth daughter of Sir John Pickering

John Alford (d.1600) married Elizabeth Oglethorpe
sold Holt and Aldford, moved to Fawley Court, Buckinghamshire

Henry Alford (1578-1645) married Bridget daughter of William de la Powle
of Hall Place, Hurley, Berkshire

Henry Alford likely the father of

Lt. Col. William Alford (1607-1674)
emigrated to Virginia by 1653, and may have been the father of:

John Alford and William Alford, apparently original immigrants, possibly brothers, both granted land in New Kent Co, VA, in 1682, on the south side of the York River along the Upper Road.  They both lived in St. Peters Parish, and both died there in 1709/10; William on 11 February, John on 14 March.  John's wife may have been named Lettice, and he received payment for the care of a parish child in 1682 and again in 1689.   One of these had a son:

James Alford (c.1685-c.1721) or (c.1687-c.1730) appears in the Register of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia.  James helped care for a parish child in 1712.  His sons disappear from the records of New Kent County by 1739.

1. Goodrich Alford  (c1708-c1753) married before 1735 Sarah; Edgecomb Co, NC
2. Lodowick Alford (c1710-c1799) married first Elizabeth Cade (d.29 May 1735) m(2) Susana Cade
. . sister of Elizabeth; m(3) Sarah; lived in Franklin Co, NC
3. James Alford, born 7 February 1712/3, bapt. 12 April 1713, died 26 May 1782, Fluvanna Co, VA
4. Warren Alford, baptized 28 August, 1715
5. Julius Alford, born 8 October 1717

Julius Alford (1717-1771) married Lucy (Newton?) moved to Edgecomb Co, North Carolina, 
about 1739, served in the Colonial Militia in 1754, received land grants in Granville County, NC in 1761, died before November, 1771, Bute Co, NC. Lucy was still alive in Franklin County, 
NC, in 1790.  [Granville County was formed from Edgecomb County in 1754; Bute County was formed from Granville County in 1764; Franklin County was formed from Bute County in 1779.  So the succession of county names does not indicate migration.]

1. John Alford (c.1747-p.1830) married Chloe Pope, Greene Co, AL
2. Isaac Alford (c.1748) married Mary Alford
3. Goodrich Alford (c.1750)
4. Patty Alford (c.1753)
5. Sarah Alford (c.1756)
6. Jacob Alford (1761-1824) married Martha Seaborn, Pike Co, MS
7. Job Alford (c.1765)

Jacob Alford (15 Aug 1761-18 Jul 1824) married first Elizabeth Bryant, then before 1792 
Martha B "Frankie" Seaborn (1763-1859) supposed daughter of John Seaborn. He was probably 
the Jacob Alford in the 1790 Census of Cumberland Co, NC. He moved to Montgomery Co, GA, 
by 1797, and to Warrenton, West Florida, by 1807, now Washington Parish, Louisiana, just 
below the Mississippi line.

1. Needom Alford (1789-1869) m.1815 Martha Waddell, Limestone Co, TX
2. Lucy Alford (c.1790) m.1810 William G. Mains, Sabine Pr, LA
3. Sarah Alford (c.1791) m. Reubin Pierce, Pike Co, MS
4. Edwin Barksdale Alford (1792-1878) m.1818 Martha Smith, Pike Co, MS
5. Nancy Alford (c.1794) married Robert Berryhill, Copiah Co, MS
6. Moses Alford (c1795) m.1817 Frances Bryant
7. Mary (Polly) Alford (c.1796) married a Howell
8. William Alford (c.1800) m.1826 Eveline Ginn, Copiah Co, MS
9. Rebecca Alford (c.1802-1833) m.1826 Raleigh Hazard
0. John Seaborn Alford (1807-1891) m.1836 Margaret Brumfield, Washington Pr, LA
1. Seaborn John Alford (1807-1884) m.1832 Mary Katherine Felder, Pike Co, MS
2. Julius Harmon Alford (1819-1869) m.1843 Augusta Addison, St.Helena Pr, LA
3. Martha Alford (c.1821) m.1839 William Stovall

Edwin Barksdale Alford (25 Nov 1792-10 Mar 1878) m.20 Dec 1818 Martha Smith, daughter of Jeremiah Smith, settled in Pike County, Mississippi, just above the Louisiana line.

1. Warren Jackson Alford (1819-1899) married Celia Ann Lewis, Washington Pr, LA
2. Cynthia Ann Alford (1820-1866) married Jesse Calvin Ball, Tylertown, MS
3. Ira Payne Alford (1822-1901) married Elizabeth Hope, Washington Pr, LA
4. William Harmon Alford (1823) west as a young man, last heard from in Matagorda, TX
5. Harriet Jane Alford (1825-1895) married Tyra J. Tynes, Washington Pr, LA
6. Lacey Alford (1828-1905) married James M Ball, Balltown, LA
7. Dr. Jephthah J. Alford (1830-1914) married Fannie Roberts, then Corinne Edwards
8. Julia Ann Alford (1832) married John Ratliff McElveen, but died young
9. Dr. Seaborn S. Alford (1834-1905) married Annice Ball, Angie, LA
0. Elijah Hadon Alford (1836) died in infancy
1. Julius Newton Alford (1838-1916) married Mary Brumfield, Pike Co, MS
2. Martha Elizabeth Alford (1846) married Jesse Aleck Brumfield, Pike Co, MS

Harriet Jane Alford m.1847 Tyra Jennings Tynes

Walter Edwin Tynes (1848-1928) m.1871 Frances Mary Tate

Jeanne Marie Tynes (1878-1958) m.1913 Carson B Matthews

Frances Mary Tate Matthews (1917-2010) m.1949 Virgil Raymond Liptrap

James Matthews Liptrap (1951)

Generations in England down to Lt Col Wiliam Alford are from Alford Family Notes
compiled by Josiah George Alford, edited by W.P.W. Phillimore, London, 1906
Supposed connection to John Alford (d.1710) is unproven