| Ezeard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms Etymology of EzeardWhat does the name Ezeard mean? The history of the name Ezeard began when it was derived from The surname Ezeard is a patronymic surname, that is, derived from an ancestor's given name. Patronymic surnames belong to the category of hereditary surnames, and they arose out of the vernacular and religious given name traditions. The vernacular or regional naming tradition is the oldest and most pervasive type of patronymic surname. According to this custom, names were originally composed of vocabulary elements from the local language. Vernacular names that were derived from ancient Germanic personal names have cognates in most European languages. For example, the court of Charlemagne (742-814) was Christian and Latin-speaking, but the Frankish dialect of Old German was commonly used for personal names. Vernacular names were widespread throughout Normandy. Accordingly, many typical English and French names are in fact, originally of Germanic origin and often have cognates in other European countries. In this case, family tradition has it that the name is derived from the name Isolde, the wife of Tristram, nephew of the King of Cornwall, of the great Arthurian legends. According to the family tradition, Tristram escaped to Brittany, where he married Isolde, daughter of the Duke of Brittany. Their tragic love affair became the subject of the opera Tristan and Isolde by Wagner. On the other hand, it seems more likely that the name is derived from the Old German word ishild, which meant ice battle. Early Origins of the Ezeard familyThe surname Ezeard was first found in Gloucestershire where they held a family seat from ancient times, being granted lands in that shire soon after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Traditionally, the family was descended from Isolde, daughter of the Duke of Brittany in the fifth century who later became the wife of Tristram, of the great Arthurian legends, nephew of the King of Cornwall. Tristram escaped to Brittany and their tragic love affair became the subject of an opera by Wagner. Early History of the Ezeard familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ezeard research. Another 172 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1569, 1577, 1599, 1645, 1695 and 1785 are included under the topic Early Ezeard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Ezeard Spelling VariationsThere are many spelling variations of Breton surnames, because the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find references to one individual with many different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. The name has been spelled Izzat, Izat, Izatt, Issard, Isoed, Izzatt, Izzard, Izod, Essarts, Isett and many more. Early Notables of the Ezeard familyMore information is included under the topic Early Ezeard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Ezeard family to IrelandSome of the Ezeard 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.
| Ezeard migration to Canada | + |
An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Ezeard arrived in North America very early: Ezeard Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century- Elbertine Ezeard, born about 1851, who was listed on the 1901 Candian census as living in Quebec city
- Robert Ezeard, born about 1851, who was listed on the 1901 Candian census as living in North York, Ontario
- George Ezeard, born about 1869, who was listed on the 1901 Candian census as living in Algoma, Ontario
- Mary J. Ezeard, born about 1852, who was listed on the 1901 Candian census as living in North York, Ontario
| Contemporary Notables of the name Ezeard (post 1700) | + |
- Doug Ezeard, Canadian Partner with Arsenault Best Cameron Ellis, Prince Edward Island
- Ken Ezeard, Canadian Executive Director of the Health Association of Prince Edward Island
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