Edward History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Wales 
  Ireland 


The Edward surname is derived from the old English word "Eadweard" which means "prosperity guard." 1 Prior to the Norman Conquest of England, Edward was a common personal name; its popularity probably due to the fact that Edward the Confessor (1003-1066) had been the Patron Saint of England before Saint George.

Early Origins of the Edward family

The surname Edward was first found in Wiltshire where Edward of Salisbury, also known as Edward the Sheriff (of Wiltshire) held land at the time of the Domesday Survey. He was an ancestor of Earls of Salisbury.

The name appeared as Eaduuardus, Eduuardus, Eduuard in the Domesday Book. 2

Kirby's Quest of Somerset listed William Edward in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) 3 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists: Adam Edward; Willelmus Edward, taylour; and Ricardus Edward. 4

Early History of the Edward family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Edward research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1206, 1219, 1279, 1283, 1471, 1523, 1540, 1547, 1563, 1576, 1582, 1597, 1615, 1637, 1658, 1678, 1711, 1801 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Edward History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Edward Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Edward are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Edward include: Edwards, Edward, Edwardes and others.

Early Notables of the Edward family

Distinguished members of the family include

Edward Ranking

In the United States, the name Edward is the 2,888th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Edward family to Ireland

Some of the Edward family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Edward migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Edward or a variant listed above:

Edward Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Edward Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Edward Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Edward Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Edward migration to Australia +

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

Edward Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Edward migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Edward Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Edward migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 12
Edward Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Edward (post 1700) +
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