Surname Cowlard - Meaning and Origin

Cowlard: What does the surname Cowlard mean?

The last name Cowlard is believed to have either Norman or Saxon origins. It is thought to have first originated as a habitational name, derived from a place named Cowley which is in the county of Oxfordshire in southern England. Records show that the place was first mentioned in the Saxon Chronicles of the 11th century as Cowela.

The surname Cowlard is thought to have been derived from the Old English terms ‘cu’ and ‘leah’, meaning ‘farmhouse in or near a wood’. It is also possible that it may have referred to someone living near a wooded valley, since ‘cow’ in the term cowley is derived from the word ‘coel’ which means ‘valley’. This would suggest that the name was being used to refer to someone who lived in or near a valley.

Although there is no direct translation of the surname, it is thought that the name may have been a nickname for a person who wore a leather cowl, or covered their head in leather or cloth. It is likely that anyone wearing head protection was seen as strong and reliable, a desirable trait in the era in which the surname is believed to have first been used.

In conclusion, the surname Cowlard is believed to have Norman or Saxon origins, and is thought to be derived from the terms ‘cu’ and ‘leah’ meaning ‘farmhouse in or near a wood’. It is also possible that it may have been used as a nickname for someone who wore head protection, such as a leather cowl.

Cowlard: Where does the name Cowlard come from?

The last name Cowlard is most common in the western regions of England and Wales. It is also found in other parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in the counties of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Hampshire, Dorset and Gloucestershire.

The earliest trace of the Cowlard name dates back to the 12th century in Devon, where a church of St Coswald stands in the village of Chagford. This indicates the family was known in this area from that time. The earliest records of the surname Cowlard are found in the register of the Knights of the Round Table, during the reign of King Edward I in 1272–1307.

The surname Cowlard is also found in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada and Australia. In the United States, the Cowlard surname can trace its origins to Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, California, and Nebraska, where branches of the Cowlard family settled in the 19th century. In Australia, early settlers with the Cowlard surname included John Cowlard and Margaret Cowlard, who arrived in Adelaide, South Australia aboard the “Aboukir” in 1849.

Today, the Cowlard surname is most common in the United Kingdom, particularly in western England and Wales, as well as other parts of the world including the United States, Canada and Australia.

Variations of the surname Cowlard

The surname Cowlard has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include:

Cowlerd

Cowler

Couillard

Coulard

Coulart

Colard

Coulward

Colewort

Colewart

Coalwort

Calard

These surnames have French, English, and Scottish origins. They are all derived from the Old French name Colard, which means "dark haired". In Scotland and England the word evolved to become Cowlard. In France, it eventually became Coulard and Couillard.

In some parts of the United Kingdom, many of these different versions of the name now co-exist as alternate spellings. For example, the surname Coulard exists in Suffolk and the name Colard is found in Devon.

In Scotland and England the name would have been anglicized and became Cowlard, Cowlar(d), Colewort, Colewart, Coalwort, and Cowler. The spelling of Colewort and Colewart were used more frequently in the Middle Ages. The spelling of Cowlard is now the most common spelling of the name, due to the industrialization of the names in the nineteenth century.

Other variants such as Calard, Coulart, and Coulward also exist in some parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland. In France, Couillard is the most common spelling.

Overall, the surname Cowlard has many variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin, all derived from the Old French Colard. Although the Cowlard spelling is the most common, various other forms still exist throughout the United Kingdom and France.

Famous people with the name Cowlard

• Chris Coward: English actor known for his roles in the series Shameless and Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
• Nick Cowlard: Australian rules football coach and former player.
• Ryan Cowlard: British television producer and presenter.
• Clive Coward: English actor, best known for his role as Keith Lard in the television series Primeval.
• Jodie Cowlard: British professional wrestler and promoter in the UK independent scene.
• James Coward: English actor who is best known for his portrayal of firefighter Paul Cramer in the BBC drama series London’s Burning.
• Mark Cowlard: British actor and comedy writer, best known for writing and producing the choice-based comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway?
• Julie Cowlard: Australian spin bowler who represented Australia at the 2000 cricket World Cup and was the first woman to ever be awarded a coaching scholarship from Cricket Australia.
• Sarah Cowlard: British dancer and choreographer, best known for her appearances in Strictly Come Dancing.
• Anne Coward: British author and illustrator, best known for her illustrated biographies of well-known people throughout history.

Other surnames

CowlandCowlay