Derward
Derived from the Old English name "Deorweard" meaning "beloved protector".
Name Census estimates that about 9 living Americans carry the first name Derward. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Derward today is around 89 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Derward births was 1921 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Derward. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Derward is about 89 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Derwards were born before 1947.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Derward. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
9
~ 1 in 38,083,815 Americans
Peak year
1921
11 babies that year
Average age
89
years old
1952 SSA rank
#3,454
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Derward: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Derward from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 52 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Derward by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Derward during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Derwards live
Origin
Meaning and history of Derward
The given name Derward has its origins in the Old English language, dating back to the early medieval period in Britain. It is derived from the Old English words "deor," meaning "deer," and "weard," meaning "guard" or "protector." The name is believed to have originated as a descriptive term, likely referring to someone who guarded or protected deer or a deer park.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Derward can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Deruuard," referring to a landowner in the county of Norfolk.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Derward remained relatively uncommon, but it was occasionally used by members of the nobility and landed gentry in various parts of England. One notable bearer of the name was Derward de Chilham, a 13th-century English landowner and knight who held lands in Kent.
In the 15th century, a variant spelling of the name, "Dereward," gained some prominence due to the legend of Hereward the Wake, a renowned English rebel and outlaw who fought against the Norman invaders in the late 11th century. While the historical accuracy of this legend is debated, it likely contributed to the enduring use of the name Derward and its variants.
Another prominent figure with the name Derward was Derward Fetherstonhaugh (1589-1660), an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. He was known for his support of the Royalist cause and his opposition to the Parliamentarian forces led by Oliver Cromwell.
In the 19th century, the name Derward experienced a modest revival in popularity, possibly influenced by the Romantic literary movement's interest in medieval themes and legends. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Derward Jervis (1836-1910), a British naval officer who served in the Crimean War and later became a Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy.
While the name Derward has never been among the most common given names, it has maintained a presence throughout history, particularly in England and other parts of the British Isles. Its unique etymology and associations with medieval legends and literature have contributed to its enduring appeal as a distinctive and historically significant name.
People
Derward + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Derward as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Derward: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Derward?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Derward going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 38,083,815 US residents.
Is Derward a common name?
We classify Derward as "Very Rare". It ranks above 25.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 110 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Derward most popular?
The single biggest year for Derward was 1921, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Derward is about 89 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Derward in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Derward a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Derward in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Derward still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Derward in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Derward can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Derward?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Derward on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.