Find out how popular the last name Deward is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Deward.
A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "dēor" meaning "deer" and "word" meaning "enclosure."
Deward, 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 Deward surname is from the 2010 census data.
Deward is the 124548th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Deward surname appeared 138 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 Deward.
We can also compare 2010 data for Deward 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.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Rank | 124548 | 100194 | 21.67% |
Count | 138 | 167 | -19.02% |
Proportion per 100k | 0.05 | 0.06 | -18.18% |
The surname DEWARD is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "de" and "weard," which together mean "the watchman" or "the guard."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DEWARD can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation conducted in 1086 on the orders of William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Deuuard," suggesting its long-standing presence in the region.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the DEWARD surname was prevalent in various parts of East Anglia, particularly in the vicinity of Norwich and Ipswich. Historical records from this period often refer to individuals with the name DEWARD as landowners, tradesmen, or even members of the local gentry.
One notable figure bearing the DEWARD surname was Sir John DEWARD (1480-1553), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth during the reign of Henry VIII. Another prominent individual was Richard DEWARD (1540-1602), a renowned theologian and author who served as the Bishop of Salisbury.
In the 17th century, the DEWARD family established itself in the county of Lincolnshire, where they became prominent landowners and benefactors. A notable member of this branch was Sir William DEWARD (1615-1684), a successful businessman and philanthropist who funded the construction of a school and almshouses in his hometown of Grantham.
Another significant figure was Samuel DEWARD (1730-1795), a pioneering architect and surveyor who was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Old Bailey courthouse and the iconic Blackfriars Bridge.
As the centuries progressed, the DEWARD surname continued to spread across various regions of England, with some branches eventually establishing roots in other parts of the British Isles and beyond. Despite its long history and various spelling variations (such as Deward, Dewaird, and Deweard), the name has retained its distinct identity and enduring legacy.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Deward.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Deward was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 76.81% | 106 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | 18.12% | 25 |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
Hispanic Origin | 3.62% | 5 |
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 Deward has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
White | 76.81% | 81.44% | -5.85% |
Black | 18.12% | 12.57% | 36.17% |
Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Two or More Races | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
Hispanic | 3.62% | 3.59% | 0.83% |
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 Deward was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/deward-surname-popularity/">Deward last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Deward last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 7, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/deward-surname-popularity/.
"Deward last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/deward-surname-popularity/. Accessed 7 July, 2025
Deward last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/deward-surname-popularity/.
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