Ward is a surname of either Old English or Old Gaelic origin, common in English-speaking countries.
The Old English name derives from an occupational surname for a civil guard/keeper of the watch, or alternately as a topographical surname from the word werd ("marsh"). The Old Irish surname is linguistically unrelated, and derives from Mac an Bháird ("son of the Bard"), a bárd being a storyteller or poet. An Irish variant is O'Ward. The oldest public record of the surname dates to 1176.[3]
In the 2010 United States Census, Ward was the 79th most common surname.[4] It is the 78th most common surname in Ireland.[5] It was the 31st most common surname in the 1991 UK census and 40th in 2001 census,[6] and in 2007, was found to be the most common surname in Lutterworth, Leicestershire.[7]
Surname
editA
edit- Aaron Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Adam Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sir Adolphus Ward (1837–1924), English historian
- Adrian Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Agnes S. Ward (1868–1938), Scottish-born American nurse
- Al Ward (1927–2021), American football executive
- Alan Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Albert Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alex Ward (American football) (born 1999), American football player
- Alexander Ward (born 1990), British tennis player
- Alf Ward (1883–1926), English footballer
- Alfred Dudley Ward (1905–1991), British Army officer
- Alfred G. Ward (1908–1982), U.S. Navy admiral
- Algy Ward (born 1959), English musician
- Alice Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alie Ward (born 1976), American television personality
- Amelita Ward (1923–1987), American actress
- Andre Ward (born 1984), American boxer
- Andrew Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Anita Ward (born 1956), American musician
- Ann Ward (born 1991), American fashion model
- Anne Ward (suffragist) (1825–1896), British-New Zealand temperance leader
- Anne V. Ward (1877–1971), Scottish-born American educator
- Anthony Ward (born 1957), British theatre designer
- Arnold Ward (1876–1950), British journalist and politician
- Artemas Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ashleigh Ward (born 1994), New Zealand footballer
- Ashley Ward (born 1970), English footballer
B
edit- Barbara Ward (1914–1981), British economist and writer
- Barbara E. Ward (1919–1983), British anthropologist
- Barry Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ben Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bernard Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bill Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- B. J. Ward (disambiguation), several people:
- B. J. Ward (actress) (born 1944), American actress
- BJ Ward (poet) (born 1967), American poet
- B. J. Ward (American football) (born 1981), American football player
- Brad Ward (born 1956), Canadian politician
- Brandon Ward (born 1972), American soccer player
- Brennan Ward (born 1988), American mixed martial artist
- Brent Ward (born 1979), New Zealand rugby union player
- Brian Ward (born 1973), American football coach and player
- Brian Ward (cricketer) (born 1944), English cricketer
- Bryan Ward (born 1972), American baseball player
- Bryan Ward (priest) (1906–1989), Australian clergyman
- Burt Ward (born 1946), American actor
C
edit- Callan Ward (born 1990), Australian rules footballer
- Cam Ward (born 1984), Canadian hockey player
- Cam Ward (politician) (born 1971), American politician
- Carisa Zhavia Ward (born 1986), American singer-songwriter
- Caroline Ward (born 1969), Australian cricket player
- Catherine Ward (born 1987), Canadian ice hockey player
- Channing Ward (born 1992), American football player
- Charles Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Charvarius Ward (born 1996), American football player
- Chris Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Christopher Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Chuck Ward (1894–1969), American baseball player
- Claire Ward (born 1972), British politician
- Clara Ward (1924–1973), American singer
- Clarissa Ward (born 1980) British-American journalist for CNN
- Clifford T. Ward (1944–2001), English singer-songwriter
- Corey Ward, American rapper
- Cory Ward (born 1974), American curler
D
edit- Daniel Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Danielle Ward (born 1978), British comedian and writer
- Darrell Ward (1964–2016), American television personality
- Darren Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Daryle Ward (born 1975), American baseball player
- Dave Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- David Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Dennis Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Denzel Ward (born 1997), American football player
- Derek Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Don Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Donald Ward (1914–??), English rugby league footballer
- Donald J. Ward (1930–2004), American folklorist
- Duane Ward (born 1964), American baseball player
E
edit- Ebenezer Ward (1837–1917), Australian politician
- Ed Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Eddie Ward (1899–1963), Australian politician
- Edmund Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Edward Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Edwin Ward (1919–2005), English priest
- Elijah Ward (1816–1882), American politician
- Elisha Ward (1804–1860), American politician
- Elizabeth Grace Ward (born 1961), American actress
- Elliot Ward (born 1993), English footballer
- Elliott Ward (born 1985), English footballer
- Emily Ward (1850–1930), English teacher
- Eric Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Evelyn Ward (1923–2012), American actress
- Evelyn Svec Ward (1921–1989), American fiber artist
F
edit- Felicity Ward (born 1980), Australian comedian
- Frances Ward (1611–1697), English peer
- Frances Ward (priest) (born 1959), Anglican priest and theologian
- Frank Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Fred Ward (1942–2022), American actor
- Freda Dudley Ward (1894–1983), English socialite
- Frederick Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
G
edit- Gareth Ward (born 1981), Australian politician
- Garry Ward, rugby league footballer
- Gary Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gemma Ward (born 1987), Australian supermodel and actor
- Geoffrey C. Ward (born 1940), American historian
- George Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gerald Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gerry Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Glenn Ward (born 1957), Australian rules footballer
- Greg Ward (born 1995), American football player
- Gregory Ward, American linguist
H
edit- H. J. Ward (1909–1945), American illustrator
- Hansford Ward (1817–1903), Australian ship captain
- Harry Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Helen Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Henry Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Herbert Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Hines Ward (born 1976), American football player
- Holcombe Ward (1878–1976), American tennis player
- Horace Ward (1927–2016), American judge
- Hugh J. Ward (1871–1941) American comic actor
J
edit- Jack Ward (1553–1622), English pirate
- Jack Ward (ice hockey), Canadian hockey player
- Jacob Ward (born 1974), American journalist
- James Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jamie Ward (born 1986), British footballer
- Janet Ward (1925–1995), American actress
- Jared Ward (born 1988), American long-distance runner
- Jason Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jay Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jeff Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jennifer Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jeremy Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jerry Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jesmyn Ward (born 1977), American novelist
- Jessie Ward (born 1979), American television producer
- Jessie Ward (actress) (born 1982), American actress
- Jihad Ward (born 1994), American football player
- Jillian Ward (born 2005), Filipino actress and model
- Jim Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Joanne Ward (born 1975), British tennis player
- Joe Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Joel Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- John Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- JoJo Ward (born 1997), American football player
- Jonathan Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Joseph Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Josephine Ward (1864–1932), British novelist
- Joshua Ward (1685–1761), English doctor
- Joshua John Ward (1800–1853), American slaveholder
- Julia Ward (1900–1962), American cryptologist
- Julia Rush Cutler Ward (1796–1824), American poet
K
edit- Kate Lucy Ward (1833–1915), British composer
- Keith Ward (born 1938), British philosopher
- Kelli Ward (born 1969), American politician
- Kelly Ward (born 1956), American actor
- Ken Ward (born 1935), Australian rules footballer
- Ken Ward Jr., American reporter
- Kenny Ward (born 1963), Scottish footballer
- Kevin Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kim Ward, American politician
- Kyle Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
L
edit- Lafe Ward (1925–2013), American lawyer and politician
- Lance Ward (born 1978), Canadian hockey player
- Larry Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lauren Ward (born 1970), American singer and actress
- Laurie Ward (1911–??), Australian rugby league footballer
- Lawrence Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lesley Ward, Australian mathematician
- Lesley Ward (diver) (born 1970), British diver
- Leslie Ward (1851–1922), British caricaturist
- Leslie Ward (cricketer) (1908–1981), English cricketer
- Lester Frank Ward (1841–1913), American biologist and sociologist
- Liam Ward (1930–2022), Irish jockey
- Linda Ann Ward (born 1947), Canadian skater
- Lorenzo Ward (born 1967), American football coach
- Luca Ward (born 1960), Italian actor and dubber
- Lyman Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
M
edit- M. Ward (born 1973), American singer-songwriter and guitarist
- Maisie Ward (1889–1975), British writer and publisher
- Maitland Ward (born 1977), American pornographic actress
- Marcus Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Margaret Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mark Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mary Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Martin de Porres Ward (1918–1999), U.S. Black Catholic missionary
- Matthew Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- May Alden Ward (1853–1918), American author
- McLain Ward (born 1975), American show jumping competitor
- Meg Ward, British disc jockey
- Megan Ward (born 1969), American actress
- Michael Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Micheal Ward (born 1995), English actor
- Micky Ward (born 1965), American boxer
- Mike Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mitchell Ward, American football player
- Monica Ward (born 1965), Italian actress and voice actress
- Morgan Ward (1901–1963), American mathematician
N
edit- Nancy Ward (1738–1822/1824), American Cherokee leader
- Nancy L. Ward, American politician
- Natalie Ward (born 1975), Australian softball player
- Natalie Ward (politician), Australian politician
- Nathan Ward (born 1981), Canadian hockey player
- Nathaniel Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Neil B. Ward (1914–1972), American meteorologist
- Nicholas Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Nick Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
O
edit- Orlando Ward (1891–1972), American Army general
P
edit- Pat Ward (politician) (1957–2012), American politician
- Patricio O'Ward (born 1999), Mexican auto racing driver
- Patrick Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Paul Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Peter Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Pendleton Ward (born 1982), American animator
- Philip Ward (1924–2003), British Army officer
- Philip Henry Ward Jr. (1886–1963), American stamp dealer
- Phillip Ward (born 1974), American football player
- Preston Ward (1927–2013), American baseball player
R
edit- Rachel Ward (born 1957), English-born Australian actress
- Rebecca Ward (born 1990), American fencer
- Robbie Ward (born 1995), English rugby league footballer
- Robert Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Robin Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Rod Ward (born 1937), Australian rules footballer
- Rodger Ward (1921–2004), American racing driver
- Rodney Ward (figure skater), (born 1941), British skater
- Roger Ward (born 1936), Australian actor
- Ron Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ronald Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ryan Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
S
edit- Sallie Ward (1827–1896), American socialite
- Samuel Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sarah Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Scooter Ward (born 1970), American musician
- Sela Ward (born 1956), American actress
- Shayne Ward (born 1984), British singer and actor
- Sheila Ward (1936–2019), British police officer
- Simon Ward (1941–2012), British actor
- Singin' Sammy Ward (1929–1996), American singer
- Sophie Ward (born 1964), British actor
- Susan Ward (born 1976), American actor
T
edit- T. J. Ward (born 1986), American football player
- Ted Ward, Welsh rugby union footballer
- Terence Ward, author
- Terron Ward (born 1992), American football player
- Terry Ward (1939–1963), English footballer
- Terry W. Ward (1885–1929), American attorney and judge
- Thaddeus Ward (born 1997), American baseball player
- Theodore Ward (1902–1983), American playwright
- Thomas Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tim Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Timothy Ward (born 1968), English cricketer
- Tony Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tracy Posner Ward (born 1962), American animal rights activist
- Troy G. Ward (born 1962), American ice hockey coach
- Turner Ward (born 1965), American baseball player and coach
- Tyler Ward (born 1988), American musician
V
edit- Vada Ward, (born 1917 or 1918), American actress, journalist, public relations practitioner, film writer, and speech coach
- Vanessa Ward (born 1963), Australian high jumper
- Victoria Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Vicki Ward (born 1969), Australian politician
- Vicky Ward (born 1969), British-American journalist and author
- Vonda Ward (born 1973), American boxer and basketball player
W
edit- Walter Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ward Wellington Ward (1875–1932), American architect
- Warren Ward (basketball) (born 1989), Canadian basketball player
- Warren Ward (footballer) (born 1962), English footballer
- Wilfrid Ward (1856–1916), British biographer
- Wilkie Ward (1884–1958), English Footballer
- William Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
Z
edit- Zack Ward (born 1970), Canadian actor
- Zhavia Ward (born 2001), American singer-songwriter
- ZZ Ward (born 1986), American singer-songwriter
Fictional characters
edit- Alice Ward, a character in Utopia
- Charles Ward, an H.P. Lovecraft character
- Grant Ward, character in the television show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- J. D. Ward, main antagonist from High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane
- John Ward, main protagonist of Faith: The Unholy Trinity
- Judith Ward, a preloaded character in The Sims 4: Get Famous
- Luke Ward, character in the television program, The O.C.
- Mycroft Ward, main antagonist from The Raw Shark Texts
- Thomas Ward, main protagonist from the Spook's series
- Risa Ward, a main character in the book series Unwind
- Victor Ward, main character of the Bret Easton Ellis novel Glamorama
- Vivian Ward, title character in the film Pretty Woman
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. p. 241. ISBN 0-9711966-2-1.
- ^ Crozier, William Armstrong (1904). Crozier's General Armory: A Registry of American Families Entitled to Coat Armor. Genealogical association. p. 132. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ "Surname: Ward". surnamedb.com. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ "Frequently Occurring Surnames from the 2010 Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ "100 Irish surnames explained". IrelandInformation.com.
- ^ Buchhorn, Wolfgang. "Names and That - Ward/Wards". www.lostancestors.eu.
- ^ "The 50 most common British surnames, by postal town" (PDF). The Guardian. 15 April 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2017.