Edward: Last Name Origin and Family Crest

Edward is best understood alongside Edwards: both are Welsh spellings of a single family name. Surname dictionaries give the meaning as “Son of Edward, "guardian of riches”.

Spelling and variants

Edward drops the “s” of Edwards, a simplification that clerks often made. Other spellings include Edwardes and Edwardson.

Arms associated with the name

Looking for a Edward coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours.

Want more than a summary? See the Edward family name pack.