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

Bedward, 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 Bedward surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bedward in America

Bedward is the 44500th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bedward surname appeared 483 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 Bedward.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bedward to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bedward

The surname Bedward is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a combination of the Old English words "bede," meaning prayer or prayerful, and "ward," indicating a watchman or guardian. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone tasked with guarding a place of worship or a religious community.

The earliest known recorded instance of the name Bedward can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1190, where a certain William Bedward is mentioned as a landowner. This document provides valuable insight into the name's existence during the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Bedeward" and "Bediward," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that period. One notable reference is in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1226, which mentions a Robert Bedeward from Oxfordshire.

The Bedward surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Bedward (1530-1592), a prominent clergyman and theologian who served as the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral during the late 16th century.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Henry Bedward (1705-1783), a British naval officer who played a pivotal role in the Battle of Quiberon Bay during the Seven Years' War. His distinguished military service earned him recognition and honors from the Crown.

In the literary realm, the surname is associated with William Bedward (1820-1898), a renowned English poet and author who gained recognition for his works exploring themes of nature and rural life.

The Bedward name has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Bedwardine, a small village in Worcestershire, and Bedwardsley, a hamlet in Cheshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Bedward surname who resided in or held ownership of these areas in the past.

It is worth noting that the name Bedward has also been subject to spelling variations over the centuries, with alternative forms like "Bedward," "Bedwarde," and "Bedwarde" appearing in historical records.

While the surname Bedward may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and origins provide valuable insights into the linguistic and cultural influences that have shaped English surnames over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bedward

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

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 Bedward 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bedward has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Bedward was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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