WARD
word
A surname-and-forename from the Old English element for a guardian or watchman.
Meaning
Ward comes from Old English "weard," meaning a guardian, watchman, or keeper. In the naming tradition, it is closely tied to the idea of protection and guarding; the excerpt from Charnock glosses Edward as from A.S. "ead-weard," "guardian of happiness," which reflects the same "ward" element. As a given name, Ward is usually understood directly from this guardian sense.
Origin
Old Englishmasculine
Fun fact
The same old English word lives on in names like Edward and in the common noun "ward" for someone under care or supervision.
Confidence: mixed. Sources: based on general naming-pattern knowledge.