Surname Heyward - Meaning and Origin

Discovering My Roots: Unraveling the Historical Journey of the Heyward Surname with iGENEA's DNA Analysis

Looking to uncover the roots of my family name, Heyward, I embarked on a journey with iGENEA's DNA analysis that didn't just explore my ancestral lineage but revealed surprising, exciting stories and histories.

E. Heyward

Heyward: What does the surname Heyward mean?

The surname Heyward is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from old English terms "hege" meaning hedge and "weard" meaning guard. Thus, the literal translation of the name is "guardian of the hedge" or "keeper of the hedge". This indicates that the original bearers of this name possibly held positions that involved protecting an enclosed piece of land or garden. It is also thought to have been used as an occupational name for a person employed as a ‘hedge-warden'. The name reflects the nature and agricultural landscape of medieval England, where the cultivating and guarding of hedges was an important task. Over time, the spelling has evolved with variations including Hayward, Howard, and Heywood among others. It is worth noting that the name's geographical distribution has spread over the years, it is now found all around the world, particularly in English-speaking countries.

Heyward: Where does the name Heyward come from?

The last name Heyward is of Anglo-Saxon origin and can be traced back to the time before the Norman Conquest in 1066. The name is a variant of the English name Hayward, derived from the Old English words "hege", meaning hedge, and "weard", meaning guard. Thus it initially described someone who was a keeper or guardian of a hedge or hedged enclosure. It was an occupational surname typically inscribed to individuals working as a professional hunter, gamekeeper or groundskeeper.

Today, variations of this surname are distributed globally due to migration and the influence of British colonialism. However, it is most common in English-speaking countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. In particular, the surname Heyward appears frequently in the United States' demographics, with strong historical presence in South Carolina, likely due to descendant lineages from Thomas Heyward Jr., a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Variations of the surname Heyward

The surname Heyward has different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin likely due to localization, translation, and pronunciation over time and across different geographies. It is derived from the Old English word 'hege' meaning hedge, so it was often used to refer to someone who lived by a hedged enclosure or worked as a guard of such enclosures.

Some variants and different spellings of Heyward include Hayward, Haywood, Heywood, Heyword, Heaward, and Heywode.

The surname is of English origin, thus, several other English surnames that might be related include Howard, Heward, Eyre, Edge, and Edgar, which similarly tend to refer to geographical features or occupations.

However, It's important to note that while these surnames may be of the same or similar origin, they each have unique histories and distribution patterns, and may not always be directly related or interchangeable with Heyward. Additionally, individual family lines may have additional or alternative spellings not listed here. It's always best to research specific genealogical records for more accurate information.

Famous people with the name Heyward

• Andre Heyward: Former professional football player with the New Orleans Saints
• Jared Heyward: Famous music producer, musician, and singer-songwriter
• Chad Heyward: Actor who has appeared in television shows CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Suits as well as movies like Doughboys
• Hawk Heyward: Former Australian Rules Footballer who won several awards throughout his career
• Durn Heyward-Rennie: Australian-born news anchor and reporter
• Peter Heyward: Former Executive Producer of the CNN news network
• Pierce Heyward: Professional lacrosse player who served as head coach for the Colorado Mammoth
• David Heyward: Professor of Southwest Studies and the Visual Arts at Colorado College
• Nick Heyward: British singer and songwriter from the 1980s
• Demetric Heyward: Professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks.

Other surnames

HaachHaackHaackeHaackerHaafHaaffHaagHaageHaagenHaagerHaagmannHaagmansHaagnerHaahsHaakHaakeHaakerHaakertHaamannHaameaHaanHaaneHaanenHaarbrandtHaarckeHaarkeHaarmannHaartjeHaarwaldtHaas