Find out how popular the last name Ayard is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ayard.

Ayard, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ayard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ayard in America

Ayard is the 110825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ayard surname appeared 159 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ayard.

The history of the last name Ayard

The surname Ayard has its origins in the Anglo-Norman French language and was first recorded in England during the 11th century. The name is derived from the Old French word 'aier', meaning 'to till' or 'to cultivate', suggesting that the original bearers were likely farmers or agricultural workers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ayard can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Aiard' in the county of Gloucestershire. This historical record provides valuable insight into the geographic distribution and occupation of the name's earliest bearers.

During the 12th century, the name was also documented in various forms, such as 'Ayard', 'Ayarde', and 'Aier', in various regions of England, including Essex, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. These variations in spelling were common during this period due to the lack of standardized English orthography.

In the 13th century, records indicate the presence of individuals bearing the surname Ayard in the counties of Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. One notable example is Robert Ayard, who was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire, around 1220 and served as a prominent landowner and local official.

The 14th century saw the emergence of several prominent figures with the surname Ayard. John Ayard, born in Lincolnshire around 1310, was a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 1349. Another notable individual was William Ayard, born in Somerset in 1375, who was a successful merchant and landowner.

In the 15th century, the surname Ayard continued to be well-represented across various regions of England. Thomas Ayard, born in Oxfordshire in 1420, was a respected clergyman and served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1482 until his death in 1491.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Ayard has undergone various spelling variations, including Aier, Ayer, Ayers, and Ayers, reflecting the fluidity of English orthography during those times. However, the name's connection to its agricultural roots has remained consistent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ayard

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ayard.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ayard was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ayard was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ayard, please contact us.

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