Show ContentsEwards History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Ewards family

The surname Ewards was first found in Durham where they were Barons of Witton-le-Wear in the county of Durham, where they had their castle, as well as Lords of Kirkley, in Northumberland ; and descended from Eustace Fitzjohn, one of the greatest barons in the reign of Henry I. by his second marriage with the heiress of the Constable of Chester. Their younger grandson, Roger, received the barony of Warkworth from Henry II., and was the father of Richard, who founded Langley Abbey in Norfolk. King Richard gave him Eure in Buckinghamshire, from which place his grandson Hugh, the ancestor of the Lords Evers, derived his name." 1

They were a renowned Border family, whose exploits as march-wardens have been sung in many a tale and ballad, and last, but not least, by Sir Walter Scott:

" When the Douglas true, and the bold Buccleuch

'Gainst keen Lord Evers stood."

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included Matilda Yowherd; Thomas Yowhvrd; and Johannes Ewehird. 2

Ewart, a township in the parish of Doddington, Northumberland was where the Scottish border Ewarts originated and are well represented in English directories through the years. 3 4

In Scotland, we find it was a "surname of an old family in Galloway, who are said to have come originally from Roxburghshire. Andrew Ewart was treasurer of Kirkcudbright in 1583." 5

Early History of the Ewards family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ewards research. Another 186 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1218, 1255, 1288, 1579, 1589, 1607, 1615, 1646, 1678, 1683, 1688, 1759, 1787, 1788, 1792 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Ewards History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ewards Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ewart, Ewert and others.

Early Notables of the Ewards family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Nigel Ewart, Chief of Bodisbeg in 1607. Joseph Ewart (1759-1792), was a Scottish-born diplomatist, eldest son of the minister of Troquear in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright and was born on 30 April 1759. He was educated at Dumfries and at Edinburgh University, and then acted as travelling tutor to Macdonald of Clanronald. While abroad, Ewart made the acquaintance of Sir...
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ewards Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ewards family to Ireland

Some of the Ewards family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Ewards migration to Australia +

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

Ewards Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Ewards, (b. 1818), aged 38, Cornish miner who immigrated to New South Wales, Australia aboard the ship "Java" in 1839 convicted at Darlinghurst Gaol in 1856 6


The Ewards Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In cruce spero
Motto Translation: I trust in the cross.


  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. 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)
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_gaol_admissions.pdf


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