Surname Heward - Meaning and Origin
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Heward: What does the surname Heward mean?
The surname Heward is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is primarily associated with England. It can be categorized as an occupational surname, deriving from the Middle English terms "heghward" or "hayward". It was used for a person who was a guardian of fenced or enclosed land, a steward, or a person responsible for protecting agricultural land, essentially a 'keeper of the hedge'. The earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to the 13th century in historical English records. Variations of the name include Hayward, Heyward, Haward, among others. Like many surnames with occupational or locational origins, the distribution and usage of the Heward surname have expanded over time due to the movement of people, economic progression, and growth of population. Therefore, the surname holds a particular significance and represents a historical aspect of societal roles and classes.
Order DNA origin analysisHeward: Where does the name Heward come from?
The surname Heward is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Heward", a compound of the elements "here", meaning army, and "weard", meaning guard. The name might have been given to a military guard in ancient times. It is also believed to be a variant of the name Howard.
Records of the surname Heward date back to the 13th century in England, specifically in counties such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. In the 19th century, many people with this surname emigrated from England to the United States, Canada, and other countries, spreading the name throughout the world.
Today, the surname Heward is quite rare and can be found in a number of countries like the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and others. According to Forebears, a database of surnames, it is most common today in England, specifically in the county of Lincolnshire. However, Canada has the highest number of individuals with the Heward surname per capita. The surname can also be found, albeit in smaller numbers, in locations throughout Europe and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Heward
The surname Heward has a multitude of variations, stems from English origin and is derived from the Old English personal name "Heward", which itself comes from the elements "here", meaning army, and "weard", meaning guardian.
There are several variants and spellings for Heward. Some include Hayward, Haywood, Heyward, Heywood, Haward, Hayard, and Howard. Each variant reflects a different geographical location and era.
The surname Howard, often considered a separate name, actually has similar roots with Heward and can be seen as a variant. The interchangeable use of 'v' and 'w', plus pronunciation changes over time have contributed to the evolution of Heward to Howard.
Other surnames that have the same origin, derived from the personal name "Heward", include Huard, Heaward, Haward, Hereward, and Huerd. These surnames might have different spellings but share the same historical and linguistic roots.
It's also common for surnames to have different spellings due to transcription errors and phonetic spellings, hence, it won't be unusual to find slight variations of the above-mentioned variants.
Remember that the usage and preference for these variations can depend highly on regional influences, personal preference or historic events.
Famous people with the name Heward
- Dennis Heward: American water polo player, gold medalist in 1972 Olympics
- Al Heward: American painter, known for his portraits of African Americans
- Derek Heward: British and South African artist, member of the Royal Academy of Arts
- Freddie Heward: British actor, best known for his roles in horror and thriller films
- John Heward: Canadian author, known for his writings on shipbuilding
- Jamie Heward: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Mitra Heward: Iranian-American professor, known for her work on the application of mathematics in leading-edge technology
- Rob Heward: Australian actor, known for his roles in Australian television and film
- Andre Heward: American professional basketball player
- Emily Heward: British author, known for her works in fantastic adventure.