BYARD
Byard
Byard is an English surname of locational origin, deriving from any of the various places typically known as "Bayard" or "Byard" in the counties of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, England. The name originates from the Old English elements "beo", meaning bee, and "geard", meaning enclosure or yard. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a place where bees were kept.
The Byard surname is believed to have been first found in Lincolnshire, particularly in the village of Byard's Leap, near Cranwell, Lincolnshire. The story behind Byard's Leap states that in the 14th century, a local man named Tom Otter was chased by local gentry to the top of a hill where he made a remarkable leap across a ravine in order to escape capture. This individual became known as Byard, and the hill where he made the leap was thereafter named Byard's Leap in his honour.
Over time, those living in or near places called Bayard or Byard adopted the surname as a way to distinguish themselves based on their place of origin. Byard has been recorded with various spelling variations, including Bayard and Byatt. The surname has spread beyond Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire to other parts of England and the wider world.
The Byard surname is borne by several notable individuals throughout history, including artists, musicians, and writers. Today, the name continues to be found in various regions of England and among the British diaspora.
There are approximately 849 people named Byard in the UK. That makes it roughly the 8,400th most common surname in Britain. Around 13 in a million people in Britain are named Byard.
Surname type: Occupational name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Lee
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Stephen
- Walter
Female
- Alison
- Anne
- Caroline
- Catherine
- Helen
- Jane
- Janet
- Jennifer
- Julie
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Michelle
- Nicola
- Olive
- Sarah