Surname Hereward - Meaning and Origin
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Hereward: What does the surname Hereward mean?
The surname Hereward is of Old English origin and combines the words "here," meaning "army," and "weard," meaning "guard." Thus, the name essentially translates to "guardian of the army" or "military guard." It was typically given as a first name to male individuals in medieval times, especially those who had a duty or role related to the protection or guarding of an army or group of soldiers. In the 11th century, Hereward the Wake, an Anglo-Saxon nobleman, made the name famous because of his resistance to the Norman conquest of England. Over time, Hereward transitioned from a first name to a surname and was adopted by numerous families, particularly within the United Kingdom.
Order DNA origin analysisHereward: Where does the name Hereward come from?
The surname Hereward is of English origin. The name is believed to be derived from two Old English words – “here” meaning army and “weard” meaning guard or protection. Thus, Hereward can roughly translate to mean "Guardian of the Army." The name is specifically known to have gained popularity due to Hereward the Wake, a famous Anglo-Saxon rebel and one of the last Englishmen to hold out against the Norman Conquest during the 11th century. His legendary tales, celebrated in folklore and literature, may have caused an increase in the use of both the first name Hereward and the legacy of the surname.
The surname Hereward was commonly associated with the eastern counties of England that encompass Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire. As with many surnames, over centuries its bearers dispersed to different parts of the world, often passing down the name through generations. Today, the surname Hereward is not particularly common in any particular region, and it can be found scattered around the globe, especially in places where English populations have migrated, like the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, it remains relatively rare overall.
Variations of the surname Hereward
The surname Hereward is of Anglo-Saxon origin, predominantly rooted in England. Variants of this surname may be influenced by regional dialects and local language variance. The name Hereward is derived from the old English words "here" meaning army, and "weard" meaning guard. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Hereward could include:
Hareward, Harward, Herwood, Herwart, Harweard, Harwood, Harewood, Hereford, and Hurford. These spellings represent variations of pronunciation, phonetic spelling, or potential colloquial changes over time.
In some cases, the surname may also have been romanized or anglicized from a different language, incorporating additional elements such as prefixes or suffixes. For example, in Germanic cultures, the surname might have been presented as Herewardus or Herewardt.
Given the original meaning of "army guard", there may be other surnames that carry a similar connotation, albeit with different spellings and language roots such as Armguard.
Please note that these are potential derivations or variations and the actual lineage and origin of the surname may vary between families or individuals.
Famous people with the name Hereward
- Hereward the Wake: He was an Anglo-Saxon nobleman and the leader of a resistance movement to Danish rule in England during the 11th century.
- Hereward Carrington: He was an English magician, paranormal researcher and psychical researcher who wrote more than 50 books on topics related to the paranormal and supernatural.
- Hereward Arnold House: He was an English botanist and plant collector who collected plants in many countries, including the United States, Chile, South Africa and Madagascar.
- David Hereward Aguilar Nicolau: He is an Argentine politician who served as Undersecretary of Public Finance.
- Hereward Kay-Shuttleworth: He was an English philanthropist and education reformer who was instrumental in the founding of modern schools.
- Hereward Lucas: He was an English author who wrote several books on theatre and poetry in the early 20th century.
- Hereward Hilton-Young: He was an English politician and Member of Parliament who served in the British House of Commons from 1937-45.
- Hereward L. Cooke: He was an American lawyer, diplomat and politician who served as United States Ambassador to Ethiopia in the late 1950s.
- Hereward Lorry: He is a British actor and comedian, best known for his roles in television series such as Father Ted and The Office.
- Hereward Somerset: He was an English writer and novelist whose best known work was the satirical novel The Notorious Lady Somerset.