Ward (surname)
Ward is a surname of either Old English or Old Gaelic origin, common in English-speaking countries.
The Old English name derives from an occupational surname for a civil guard/keeper of the watch, or alternately as a topographical surname from the word werd. The Old Irish surname is linguistically unrelated, and derives from Mac an Bháird, a bárd being a storyteller or poet. An Irish variant is O'Ward. The oldest public record of the surname dates to 1176.
In the 2010 United States census, Ward was the 79th most common surname. It is the 78th most common surname in Ireland. It was the 31st most common surname in the 1991 UK census and 40th in 2001 census, and in 2007, was found to be the most common surname in Lutterworth, Leicestershire.
Surname
A
- Aaron Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Adam Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sir Adolphus Ward, English historian
- Adrian Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Agnes S. Ward, Scottish-born American nurse
- Al Ward, American football executive
- Alan Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Albert Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alex Ward (American football), American football player
- Alexander Ward, British tennis player
- Alf Ward, English footballer
- Alfred Dudley Ward, British Army officer
- Alfred G. Ward, U.S. Navy admiral
- Algy Ward, English musician
- Alice Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alie Ward, American television personality
- Amelita Ward, American actress
- Andre Ward, American boxer
- Andrew Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Anita Ward, American musician
- Ann Ward, American fashion model
- Anne Ward (suffragist), British-New Zealand temperance leader
- Anne V. Ward, Scottish-born American educator
- Anthony Ward, British theatre designer
- Arnold Ward, British journalist and politician
- Artemas Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ashleigh Ward, New Zealand footballer
- Ashley Ward, English footballer
B
- Barbara Ward, British economist and writer
- Barbara E. Ward, British anthropologist
- Barry Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ben Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bernard Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bill Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- B. J. Ward (disambiguation), several people:
- *B. J. Ward (actress), American actress
- *BJ Ward (poet), American poet
- *B. J. Ward (American football), American football player
- Brad Ward, Canadian politician
- Brandon Ward (soccer), American soccer player
- Brennan Ward, American mixed martial artist
- Brent Ward, New Zealand rugby union player
- Brian Ward, American football coach and player
- Brian Ward (cricketer), English cricketer
- Bryan Ward, American baseball player
- Bryan Ward (priest), Australian clergyman
- Burt Ward, American actor
C
- Callan Ward, Australian rules footballer
- Cam Ward, Canadian hockey player
- Cam Ward (politician), American politician
- Carisa Zhavia Ward, American singer-songwriter
- Carla Ward, English football coach and former player
- Caroline Ward, Australian cricket player
- Catherine Ward, Canadian ice hockey player
- Channing Ward, American football player
- Charles Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Charvarius Ward, American football player
- Chris Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Christopher Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Chuck Ward, American baseball player
- Claire Ward, British politician
- Clara Ward, American singer
- Clarissa Ward British-American journalist for CNN
- Clifford T. Ward, English singer-songwriter
- Corey Ward, American rapper
- Cory Ward, American curler
D
- Daniel Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Danielle Ward, British comedian and writer
- Darrell Ward, American television personality
- Darren Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Daryle Ward, American baseball player
- Dave Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- David Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Dennis Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Denzel Ward, American football player
- Derek Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Don Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Donald Ward, English rugby league footballer
- Donald J. Ward, American folklorist
- Doris M. Ward, American politician
- Duane Ward, American baseball player
E
- Ebenezer Ward, Australian politician
- Ed Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Eddie Ward, Australian politician
- Edmund Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Edward Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Edwin Ward, English priest
- Elijah Ward, American politician
- Elisha Ward, American politician
- Elizabeth Grace Ward, American actress
- Elliot Ward, English footballer
- Elliott Ward, English footballer
- Emily Ward, English teacher
- Eric Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Evelyn Ward, American actress
- Evelyn Svec Ward, American fiber artist
F
- Felicity Ward, Australian comedian
- Frances Ward, English peer
- Frances Ward (priest), Anglican priest and theologian
- Frank Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Fred Ward, American actor
- Freda Dudley Ward, English socialite
- Frederick Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
G
- Gareth Ward, Australian politician
- Garry Ward, rugby league footballer
- Gary Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gemma Ward, Australian supermodel and actor
- Gene Ward, American politician in Hawaii
- Geoffrey C. Ward, American historian
- George Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gerald Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gerry Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Glenn Ward, Australian rules footballer
- Grant Ward, English football player
- Greg Ward, American football player
- Gregory Ward, American linguist
H
- H. J. Ward, American illustrator
- Hansford Ward, Australian ship captain
- Harry Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Harrison Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Helen Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Henry Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Herbert Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Hines Ward, American football player
- Holcombe Ward, American tennis player
- Horace Ward, American judge
- Hugh J. Ward American comic actor
J
- Jack Ward, English pirate
- Jack Ward (ice hockey), Canadian hockey player
- Jacob Ward, American journalist
- James Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jamie Ward, British footballer
- Janet Ward, American actress
- Jared Ward, American long-distance runner
- Jason Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jay Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jeff Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jennifer Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jeremy Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jerry Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jesmyn Ward, American novelist
- Jessie Ward, American television producer
- Jessie Ward (actress), American actress
- Jihad Ward, American football player
- Jillian Ward, Filipino actress and model
- Jim Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Joanne Ward, British tennis player
- Joe Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Joel Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- John Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- JoJo Ward, American football player
- Jonathan Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Joseph Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Josephine Ward, British novelist
- Joshua Ward, English doctor
- Joshua John Ward, American slaveholder
- Julia Ward, American cryptologist
- Julian Ward, English Association football executive and former footballer
- Julia Rush Cutler Ward, American poet
K
- Kate Lucy Ward, British composer
- Keith Ward, British philosopher
- Kelli Ward, American politician
- Kelly Ward, American actor
- Ken Ward, Australian rules footballer
- Ken Ward Jr., American reporter
- Kenny Ward, Scottish footballer
- Kevin Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kim Ward, American politician
- Kyle Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
L
- Lafe Ward, American lawyer and politician
- Lance Ward, Canadian hockey player
- Larry Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lauren Ward, American singer and actress
- Laurie Ward, Australian rugby league footballer
- Lawrence Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lesley Ward, Australian mathematician
- Lesley Ward (diver), British diver
- Leslie Ward, British caricaturist
- Leslie Ward (cricketer), English cricketer
- Lester Frank Ward, American biologist and sociologist
- Liam Ward, Irish jockey
- Linda Ann Ward, Canadian skater
- Lorenzo Ward, American football coach
- Luca Ward, Italian actor and dubber
- Lyman Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
M
- M. Ward, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
- Maisie Ward, British writer and publisher
- Maitland Ward, American pornographic actress
- Marcus Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Margaret Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mark Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mary Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Martin de Porres Ward, U.S. Black Catholic missionary
- Matthew Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- May Alden Ward, American author
- McLain Ward, American show jumping competitor
- Meg Ward, British disc jockey
- Megan Ward, American actress
- Michael Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Micheal Ward, English actor
- Micky Ward, American boxer
- Mike Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mitchell Ward, American football player
- Monica Ward, Italian actress and voice actress
- Morgan Ward, American mathematician
N
- Nancy Ward, American Cherokee leader
- Nancy L. Ward, American politician
- Natalie Ward, Australian softball player
- Natalie Ward (politician), Australian politician
- Nathan Ward (ice hockey), Canadian hockey player
- Nathaniel Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Neil B. Ward, American meteorologist
- Nicholas Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Nick Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
O
- Orlando Ward, American Army general
P
- Pat Ward (politician), American politician
- Patricio O'Ward, Mexican auto racing driver
- Patrick Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Paul Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Peter Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Pendleton Ward, American animator
- Philip Ward, British Army officer
- Philip Henry Ward Jr., American stamp dealer
- Phillip Ward, American football player
- Preston Ward, American baseball player
R
- Rachel Ward, English-born Australian actress
- Rebecca Ward, American fencer
- Robbie Ward, English rugby league footballer
- Robert Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Robin Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Rod Ward, Australian rules footballer
- Rodger Ward, American racing driver
- Rodney Ward (figure skater),, British skater
- Roger Ward, Australian actor
- Ron Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ronald Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ryan Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
S
- Sallie Ward, American socialite
- Samuel Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sarah Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Scooter Ward, American musician
- Sela Ward, American actress
- Shayne Ward, British singer and actor
- Sheila Ward, British police officer
- Simon Ward, Canadian singer
- Simon Ward, British actor
- Singin' Sammy Ward, American singer
- Sophie Ward, British actor
- Steven Ward, Irish professional boxer
- Susan Ward, American actor
T
- T. J. Ward, American football player
- Ted Ward, Welsh rugby union footballer
- Terence Ward, author
- Terron Ward, American football player
- Terry Ward, English footballer
- Terry W. Ward, American attorney and judge
- Thaddeus Ward, American baseball player
- Theodore Ward, American playwright
- Thomas Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tim Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Timothy Ward, English cricketer
- Tony Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tracy Posner Ward, American animal rights activist
- Troy G. Ward, American ice hockey coach
- Turner Ward, American baseball player and coach
- Tyler Ward, American musician
V
- Vada Ward,, American actress, journalist, public relations practitioner, film writer, and speech coach
- Vanessa Ward, Australian high jumper
- Victoria Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Vicki Ward, Australian politician
- Vicky Ward, British-American journalist and author
- Vonda Ward, American boxer and basketball player
W
- Walter Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ward Wellington Ward, American architect
- Warren Ward (basketball), Canadian basketball player
- Warren Ward (footballer), English footballer
- Wilfrid Ward, British biographer
- Wilkie Ward, English Footballer
- William Ward (disambiguation), multiple people
Z
- Zack Ward, Canadian actor
- Zhavia Ward, American singer-songwriter
- ZZ Ward, American singer-songwriter
Fictional characters
- Alice Ward, a character in Utopia
- Charles Ward, an H.P. Lovecraft character
- Grant Ward, character in the television show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- J. D. Ward, main antagonist from High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane
- John Ward, main protagonist of Faith: The Unholy Trinity
- Judith Ward, a preloaded character in The Sims 4: Get Famous
- Luke Ward, character in the television program, The O.C.
- Mycroft Ward, main antagonist from The Raw Shark Texts
- Thomas Ward, main protagonist from the Spook's series
- Risa Ward, a main character in the book series Unwind
- Victor Ward, main character of the Bret Easton Ellis novel Glamorama
- Vivian Ward, title character in the film ''Pretty Woman''