Meaning, Origin, Etymology
The surname of Edwards derives from the personal given name Edward. The personal given name of Edward comes from the Old English Pre 7th Century word of “Eadward,” which itself comes from the elements “ead” which can be translated to mean prosperity or fortune, and the element “ward” or “weard” which can be translated to mean guard. Thus, the personal given name of Edward can be translated to mean “prosperity guard,” or “guard of fortune.”

The surname of Edwards is the patronymic form of the personal given name, adding an “s” to denote that the original bearer of this surname was the son of Edward. This means that the surname of Edwards means “son of the prosperity guard,” or “son of the guard of the fortune.” The popularity of this surname can be traced to the canonized Kings of England, one Edward the Martyr who ruled from the year 962 to the year 979, and one Edward the Confessor, who ruled from the year 1004 to the year 1066. This personal given name was originally found in the Doomsday Book of 1086 under the personal given name of Eaduuardus and Eduuard.The first recorded spelling of the surname of Edwards was found in the country of Wales. One person who was named John Edwards was mentioned and named in the Records of Chirk in the year 1498. This document was ordered, decreed, and written under the reign of King Henry VII, who was commonly known throughout the ages as “The Last Welsh King.” King Henry VII ruled from the year 1485 to the year 1509. Wales was the country where the patronymic form of this surname of Edwards was found with the added “s” at the end, denoting “son of Edward.” Other mentions of this surname in the country of Wales include Humphrey Edwards, who died in the year 1658, who also signed the death warrant of King Charles I in the year 1649, and who served as the commissioner of South Wales in the year 1651. Another mention of the surname of Edwards in Wales was in the year 1767 to the year 1768, when John Edwards translated the text Pilgrim’s Progress into Welsh. The largest concentration of those who carry the surname of Edwards live in the county of Glamorgan. Those who carry the surname of Edwards can be found throughout Scotland’s eastern region.

The surname of Edwards can be found throughout the country of England. The areas with the largest concentration of those who bear the surname of Edwards can be seen in the areas of Lancashire county and in and around the city of London. The United States of America was an area where many European citizens migrated to in the 1600’s. Those who are known to have the surname of Edwards were among those who migrated to America. The first person to bear the surname of Edwards in America was one Arthur Edwards, who settled in the state of Virginia in the year 1622. In 1633, Robert Edwards was recorded to have landed in the state of Maryland.

The most Noble Order of the Garter was founded by Edward III in 1348. Members of the Order have included the Duke of Wellington and Winston Churchill.

The American clergyman Jonathan Edwards (1703—58) was renowned for his gift as a preacher. Unfortunately, such was the powerful effect of his oratory, that when he led a religious revival in 1734 he drove many of his converts to suicide. After this, he became president of the college which later became Princeton University.

Michael Edwardes, chairman of much troubled BL (formerly British Leyland), was born in South Africa. His meteoric rise in the commercial world came to public notice after he won the Guardian Young Businessman’s Award. His appointment as chairman of BL has made him a popular target for union leaders, and his efforts to save the ailing British car industry-notably by linking it with the Japanese firm of Honda-have frequently raised storms of controversy.
The Fleet Street editorship record is held by Robert Edwards who served four terms as editor of a national newspaper: Daily Express (1961 and again in 1963), Sunday People (1966) and Sunday Mirror (1972).

The United Kingdom has one related-name town-Edwardstone, while Australia has an Edwardstown and New Zealand an Edwardson. The United States has 7 Edwards- related towns.

Spelling Variations
Edwardes, Edward, Eadwards, Edewards, Edwardson, Edwardsa, Eddwards, Edwaards, Edwarrds, Edawards, Edwareds, Edwards, Edward, Edwardes