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Edward Family History

Edward Name Meaning

English: from the Middle English personal name Edward, Old English Eadward, composed of the elements ead ‘prosperity’, ‘fortune’ + w(e)ard ‘guard’. The English personal name also became popular on the Continent as a result of the fame of the two canonized kings of England, Edward the Martyr (962–79) and Edward the Confessor (1004–66). They certainly contributed largely to its great popularity in England.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Seward, Edgar, Ewald, Howard, Ewart, Coward, Ward, Edman, Aylward

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Edward family from?

You can see how Edward families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Edward family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Edward families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,928 Edward families living in London. This was about 20% of all the recorded Edward's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Edward families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Edward surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Edward ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Edward. 15% of Edward men worked as a General Labourer and 65% of Edward women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Edward were Gardener and Private Means. .

View Census Data for Edward | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    15%
  • Builders Labourer
    10%
  • Bricklayer
    7%
  • Gardener
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Edward family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 219,000 census records available for the last name Edward. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Edward census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Edward

Passenger Lists

There are 26,000 immigration records available for the last name Edward. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Edward immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 46,000 military records available for the last name Edward. For the veterans among your Edward ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Edward military records

You've only scratched the surface of Edward family history

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What is the average Edward lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Edward life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1982. The average life expectancy for Edward in 1947 was 33, and 61 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Edward

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