Edward Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Edward Name Meaning: An Anglo-Saxon name taken from the word 'eadweard', 'ead' meaning 'prosperous' or 'happy' and 'weard' meaning 'guard'.

This name was often associated with people of wealth, mainly kings and became popular in the 11th Century after Edward the Confessor.

Discover how your Edward ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Edward Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Edward family

Profession Census Frequency
Agricultural Labourer 347
Female Servant 326
Independent 208
Labourer 176
Farmer 158
Male Servant 134
Shoe Maker 54
Miner 45
Carpenter 43
Collier 35
Tailor 34
Dress Maker 29
Pauper 27
Ag Labourer 27
Blacksmith 24
Servant 23
Mason 22
Clerk 20
Smith 18
Laundress 18
Joiner 16
Mariner 16
Sawyer 15
Quarry Man 15
Painter 15

Edward Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Edward 100% 51,395
2 Doward 67% 1,972

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The surname Edward is the most popular version of all its varients

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