Show ContentsHarward History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Harward comes from the family having resided in Lincolnshire. The name is derived from the Old English word har which means "grey" and the word wudu which means "wood." [1]

"Prior to the latter half of the XIV. cent. the name was written Harward and Hereward, and tradition derives the family from the celebrated Hereward, the patriot Saxon, who a few years after the Conquest headed his oppressed countrymen against the forces of William. He was the younger son of Leofric, earl of Mercia." [2]

Another source provides more about Hereward. His history "fills a larger place in legend than in authentic history. A few references to him in the chronicles and an account of his possessions in Domesday are all that we really know of him. But his exploits in defending Ely from the Normans caused the generation succeeding his own to regard him as the popular hero of the English resistance to their French conquerors. Popular songs commemorated his wonderful deeds, and were the sources of many mythical histories which disagree with each other, and with known history. They are written with obvious exaggeration, though some of them are not sixty years subsequent in date to the time when Hereward in all probability was still alive." [3]

Early Origins of the Harward family

The surname Harward was first found in Lancashire at either Great Harwood or Little Harwood; and or in West Yorkshire at Harewood, all villages. [4]

An early record of the family was found in Cheshire in the twelfth century: Hubert de Harewda was listed there in 1176. Bernard de Harewode was listed in 1242 Fees and Alice Harewode was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327. [5]

Up in Scotland, the name was likely from a local origin, "probably from Harwood near West Calder, Midlothian. Roger de Hauewod held land of Gouyrton near Edinburgh, 1317, and Ada, daughter of Roger de Harewood or Hauwod, is mentioned in Aberdeen in same year. The lands of Trowere in the earldom of Carrick were resigned by Janet de Hawod, 1430." [6]

Early History of the Harward family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harward research. Another 256 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1071, 1464, 1563, 1564, 1565, 1568, 1572, 1574, 1575, 1577, 1578, 1586, 1600, 1614, 1618, 1632, 1634, 1647, 1648, 1674, 1707 and 1787 are included under the topic Early Harward History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harward Spelling Variations

Harward has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Harwood, Harewood, Horwood, Whorwood, Herwood, Hereward, Harward and many more.

Early Notables of the Harward family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Simon Harward (fl. 1572-1614), was a divine and author, matriculated as pensioner of Christ's College, Cambridge, December 1572, and graduated B.A. in 1574-1575, was incorporated B.A. of Oxford 9 Jul...

Harward Ranking

In the United States, the name Harward is the 17,321st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [7]

Ireland Migration of the Harward family to Ireland

Some of the Harward family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Harward migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Harwards to arrive on North American shores:

Harward Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Charles Harward, who landed in Virginia in 1653 [8]
Harward Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Harward, who landed in New England in 1730 [8]
Harward Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Harward, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1838 [8]

Australia Harward migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Harward Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Harward, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Brightman" in 1840 [9]
  • Amelia Harward, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Brightman" in 1840 [9]
  • Samuel Harward, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Spartan" in 1849 [10]

Contemporary Notables of the name Harward (post 1700) +

  • Vice Admiral Robert S. Harward Jr., American Navy SEAL, current Deputy Commander of United States Central Command
  • Donald West Harward, American philosopher, the sixth president of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine (1989 to 2002)
  • Frederic T. Harward, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Circuit Judge in Michigan 3rd Circuit, 1923, 1935, 1941 [11]
  • Charles Harward (1743-1802), Anglican priest, Dean of Chichester (1770)
  • John Henry Harward (1858-1932), British educationist


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRIGHTMAN 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Brightman.htm
  10. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SPARTAN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Spartan.htm
  11. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook