Ward Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Ward Name Meaning: Of English and Irish origin. The Irish name comes form the Gaelic Mac an Bhaird meaning ‘son of the poet’ The old English name comes from the occupational name for a guard or watchman. Ward may also have been given as a name to someone who lived near a guardhouse.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Ward Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Ward family

Profession Census Frequency
Agricultural Labourer 1,725
Female Servant 1,364
Independent 900
Labourer 645
Male Servant 572
Farmer 486
Shoe Maker 289
Ag Labourer 249
Weaver 180
Carpenter 171
Tailor 156
Cotton Weaver 147
Dress Maker 145
Frame Work Knitter 116
Coal Miner 112
Apprentice 107
Butcher 101
Publican 98
Blacksmith 94
Silk Weaver 89
Servant 87
Gardener 87
Grocer 83
Clerk 77
Ag Lab 72

Ward Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Ward 100% 471,018
2 Word 75% 7,581
3 Warde 80% 3,273
4 Wride 40% 1,818
5 Eward 80% 155
6 Wrede 40% 103
7 Award 80% 102
8 Weard 80% 100

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

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