The word "Spafford" is spelled using the IPA phonetic transcription as /spəˈfɔːrd/. The first syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound followed by a "p" sound. The second syllable has a long "o" sound and ends with the "rd" sound. This name may have been derived from a place name or referred to someone who lived near a ford, a shallow part of a river that could be crossed on foot or horseback.