Ward_Surname

Ward, pronounced as"Mac an Bhaird" in Gaelic. Meaning "son of the bard".
Signifying those who gave their name to the parish of Lettermacaward in the
barony of Boylagh in Ireland. They were seated at Muine Chasain and
Ballymacward.
In England it is most likely from the Old English "wearde" meaning "watching,
guarding". Acording to Census and other public documents the following facts
are known about persons with the surname of Ward. Based on 1990 statictics, Ward was the 66th most popular surname in the USA with about 300,000 persons.
Other Nations with large populations of persons with the surname Ward are;
Great Britain,. Austrailia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, and Northern Ireland

Research of the ancient chronicals and records in England has shown the
original source of the name WARD as being an old Norman surname.
This conclusion is widely held and widely accepted even though it has
been mistakenly assumed as French. The Normans were however more
accurately of Viking origin. Viking peoples arrived in Ireland and the Orkneys
as early as 870 AD, and later to Northern France, early in the 10th century,
where King Charles III was forced to cede territory to them. The first record
that I have found is the following;

Among the "seven hundred and ten distinguished persons, each bearing but one name, who accompanied William the Conqueror from Normandy to England in 1066" and still preserved their names is that of "Ward, one of the Noble Captians"