Ewerd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Early Origins of the Ewerd family

The surname Ewerd 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 Ewerd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ewerd 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 Ewerd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ewerd Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Ewerd 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 Ewerd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ewerd family to Ireland

Some of the Ewerd 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.

Migration of the Ewerd family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: George, James, and John Ewart who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1786; David and Elizabeth Ewert arrived in Philadelphia in 1840.

The Ewerd 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.

Citations +

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
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)