Surname Seward - Meaning and Origin

Investigating Seward Lineage: Unveiling Ancestry with iGENEA’s DNA Test

Starting a journey to unravel my lineage, my DNA test at iGENEA has revealed fascinating aspects of my surname, Seward. This analysis elaborates on the test's technical competence and the understanding of my Seward roots it has unveiled.

V. Seward

Seward: What does the surname Seward mean?

The last name Seward is derived from the Old English word “sewastre”, meaning “sea-wearer”. This name was typically used to refer to someone who was a sailor, fisherman, or merchant who worked on the sea. In some cases, it could also refer to someone who lived near a body of water. Over time, the name Seward evolved into a surname used throughout England and eventually spread to other countries.

The name Seward is associated with a sense of adventure and exploration, most likely due to its seafaring origins. The term was usually given to someone who was brave and courageous enough to traverse the unknown waters. It also reflects a sense of security since ocean voyages were risky and unpredictable but so were the rewards for those brave enough to undertake them.

Seward was also an occupational name, at times used to designate workers in a variety of trades including sailors, fishermen, shipwrights, fishmongers, coopers, armorers, and smiths. It was also used to describe a maker of sails and oars or the operator of a main shipyard or port.

Today, the last name Seward is found throughout the world and has multiple meanings. It is still used to signify the seafaring origins as well as to describe a sense of peacefulness in a fast-paced, ever-changing world.

Seward: Where does the name Seward come from?

The last name Seward is commonly found across the United States, Canada, and Great Britain.

The origins of the Seward name are believed to be from England and Scotland. The earliest recorded Seward was an Anglo-Saxon nobleman, Robert Seward, who lived in the 12th century.

In the United States, the Seward surname is most common in Texas, Illinois, Arizona, Colorado, Tennessee, and California. In Canada, it is concentrated in the provinces of Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia.

In Great Britain, the Seward surname is most commonly found in Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire. It is also on record in other parts of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

According to Ancestry.com, Seward is derived from the name Seaward, meaning a guardian of the sea. It is also thought to be related to the Old English word "seap" meaning to depart or rush.

Today, the last name Seward can be found around the globe. It is a prominent name in many places, including the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. The meaning behind the name is still thought to be related to the sea, and there are numerous prominent people with this surname, including Elihu Seward, an American Civil War doctor, Fred Seward a successful American banker, and William H. Seward, US secretary of state.

Variations of the surname Seward

The surname Seward has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name, Sigeweard, which is a combination of the words "sige" and "weard", meaning "victory" and "guardian", respectively. Variants of this surname include Seward, Sewarde, Seaward, Saward, Sewerd, Sovard, Sewart, Swerd, Seager, Seaver, Seewer, Seaward, and Seawards.

Surnames with a similar origin and spelling include Seaward, Seawards, Siward, Swerd, Sewer, Sewers, and Sewardt. All of these are variations of the Anglo-Saxon name Sigeweard. In Scotland, some of the variants are Seward, Siward, Seaward, Saward, and Soward.

In European countries like Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, there may be surnames with a similar spelling, stemming from the word "seiden", meaning "silk" or "fabric". This may be found in Dutch and German spellings such as Seyden, Seidell, Seidelman, Seidewitz, Seifert, Seifferth, Seyfried, and Zeidler.

As with all surnames, the exact origins of Seward vary greatly from person to person and may not always be easiy to identify. However, by taking into account the myriad of spellings and surnames of the same origin, one can gain a better insight into the various ways this surname has been carried down over time.

Famous people with the name Seward

• William H. Seward: United States politician and diplomat best known for his work as the United States Secretary of State during the Civil War and Reconstruction.
• Sarah Clark Seward: author and editor.
• Thomas Seward: English poet and scholar.
• John William Seward: former American diplomat, ambassador and United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
• Bridges Seward: former Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Charles Robert Seward: American federal judge.
• Richard Seward: British Conservative politician.
• Frank Seward: former Major League Baseball outfielder.
• Jobn Adams Seward: United States senator from New York.
• Joseph Seward: former professional basketball player.
• Sarah Seward Johnson: daughter of William H. Seward and author.
• Anna Seward: English Romantic poet.
• Henry Charles Seward: former politician in Ontario, Canada.
• Lee Seward: former professional American football player.
• Phil Seward: former Major League Baseball outfielder.

Other surnames

Sewart