TOWARD
Toward is a surname of English origin that appears to have evolved from the Old English word towweard, which denotes approach, coming, or future. The etymology suggests that the name was originally a descriptive nickname for an individual who was forward‑thinking or kept a constant gaze upon the horizon.
The Old English derivation is consistent with contemporary accounts that associate the surname with locational characteristics; it may have been applied to those who dwelt near a road or path that led to a particular destination. In this sense, the name conveys a sense of anticipation and progress, and it was likely bestowed upon people who were perceived as purposeful or forward‑oriented.
Other research indicates that Toward may also have two distinct origins. One possibility is an early medieval English source, in which the Middle English term toward is interpreted as docile, making the name a sobriquet for a compliant or obedient person. The second possibility is Scottish, linked to the lands of Toward in the parish of Dunoon, Argyllshire. According to legend, during the reign of Robert 111 (1390-1406) two sons of the chief of the Lamonts adopted the surname Toward, and the name is considered to be a sept of Clan Lamond. Recorded Scottish instances include Patrick Towart, a burgess and freeman of Glasgow in 1600; Malcolm Toward, a reader in Logie who was deposed in 1600 for consulting the Egyptians; and Walter Towar, a bedell of Logie in 1690.
The earliest documented spelling of the family name is that of Margery Toward, dated 1275 in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk during the reign of King Edward I, known as “The Hammer of the Scots” (1272-1307). The surname is chiefly found in the North of England, particularly in Northumberland, and in Scotland. Given its early medieval appearance and the concentration of records in these regions, the name has remained a distinctive marker of Northern heritage for centuries.
Typical given names associated with the Toward surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Brian
- Christopher
- David
- George
- Graham
- James
- Jason
- John
- Martin
- Michael
- Paul
- Robert
Female
- Alison
- Ann
- Catrina
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jean
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Toward in...
Braille
⠞⠕⠺⠁⠗⠙
Morse
----.--.-.-.-..
Semaphore
There are approximately 477 people named Toward in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around seven in a million people in Britain are named Toward.
