HARWARD

Harward

Harward is a surname of English origin, with recorded historical roots tracing back to medieval times. The name Harward is believed to be derived from the Old English personal name 'Hereward', a compound of 'here' meaning 'army' and 'weard' meaning 'guard'. The surname Harward is classified as a patronymic or metronymic, suggesting that it was originally a given name that was passed down to descendants as a hereditary surname.

The Harward surname has been found predominantly in regions across England, particularly in areas such as East Anglia and the East Midlands. Over the centuries, individuals bearing the surname Harward have been associated with various occupations and social statuses.

Like many surnames, the variant spellings of Harward have evolved over time due to factors such as illiteracy, dialectal pronunciation, and clerical errors in official records. Some of the alternate spellings that have been documented include variants such as Harwood, Haywood, Hayward, and Herwood.

Notable individuals with the Harward surname have contributed to various fields of endeavours, though the name may not be as prominent as some other English surnames. Genealogical studies continue to shed light on the historical migration and distribution patterns of the Harward family name, offering insights into Britain's social and cultural history.

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

• Barnaby
• Christopher
• David
• James
• John
• Mark
• Matthew
• Paul
• Peter
• Philip
• Stephen
• William

Female

• Barbara
• Dorothy
• Elizabeth
• Gillian
• Isabel
• Jessica
• Jill
• Joanne
• June
• Karen
• Lianne
• Meg
• Paula
• Pauline
• Sharon

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.