Deward
A transferred use of a surname meaning "prosperous guard".
Name Census estimates that about 349 living Americans carry the first name Deward. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Deward today is around 76 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Deward births was 1924 (64 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Deward. 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 Deward is about 76 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Dewards were born before 1960.
People living today
349
~ 1 in 982,104 Americans
Peak year
1924
64 babies that year
Average age
76
years old
1981 SSA rank
#6,528
Tracked since 1903
Popularity
Deward: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Deward from the 1900s through to the 1980s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 415 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
Deward 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 Deward during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Dewards live
The SSA's state-level files cover 10 states and territories. Texas, Kentucky, West Virginia recorded the most babies named Deward, while Virginia, Missouri, Alabama recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 26 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Deward
The given name Deward is a relatively obscure and uncommon name, with its origins shrouded in mystery and uncertainty. It is believed to be derived from the Old English or Anglo-Saxon language, although its precise etymology remains unclear.
One theory suggests that Deward may have originated from the Old English words "dēor" meaning "deer" and "weard" meaning "guard" or "protector." This could indicate that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals who were responsible for guarding or protecting deer or other wild animals in forests or hunting grounds.
Another possibility is that Deward is a variant or corruption of the more common Old English name "Deorweard," which translates to "precious guard" or "guardian of treasure." This name may have been given to individuals entrusted with safeguarding valuable possessions or resources.
While there are no definitive historical records or ancient texts that mention the name Deward explicitly, a few individuals bearing this name have been documented throughout history, albeit sparsely.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deward was in the 12th century. Deward of Northumbria (c. 1120-1185) was a minor nobleman and landowner in the north of England during the reign of King Henry II.
In the 15th century, Deward Blacksmith (c. 1435-1497) was a respected craftsman and metalworker in the city of York, known for his intricate ironwork and ornate metallic designs.
During the 16th century, Deward Cartwright (1541-1603) was a notable English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Chester from 1595 until his death.
In the 17th century, Deward Fielding (1620-1678) was a wealthy merchant and trader in the city of Bristol, involved in the transatlantic trade with the American colonies.
Moving into the 18th century, Deward Harrington (1735-1805) was a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army.
While the name Deward has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, these individuals serve as examples of how this unique name has been carried forward over the centuries, albeit in a limited capacity. Its obscure origins and scarcity have contributed to its distinctive character and intrigue.
People
Deward + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Deward 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
Deward: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Deward?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 349 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Deward 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 982,104 US residents.
Is Deward a common name?
We classify Deward as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,393 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Deward most popular?
The single biggest year for Deward was 1924, when 64 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Deward is about 76 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Deward a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Deward 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.
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.