Ewald Family History

North German: from a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements ēo ‘law custom right’ (a rare element in personal names found mostly in Old Saxon) + wald ‘rule’. This name was borne in the 7th century by two brothers (distinguished as ‘Ewald the White’ and ‘Ewald the Black’) who were missionaries in northern Germany.

They became the patron saints of Cologne and Westphalia and so contributed to the popularity of the personal name (and hence the eventual frequency of the surname) in these areas.