Edward is an English

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

. It is derived from the

Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons were a Cultural identity, cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo- ...

name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”.

History

The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Saxon England, but the rule of the

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

and Plantagenet dynasties had effectively ended its use amongst the upper classes. The popularity of the name was revived when Henry III named his firstborn son, the future

Edward I Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he ruled the duchies of Aquitaine and Gascony as a vassal o ...

, as part of his efforts to promote a cult around

Edward the Confessor Edward the Confessor ; la, Eduardus Confessor , ; ( 1003 – 5 January 1066) was one of the last Anglo-Saxon English kings. Usually considered the last king of the House of Wessex, he ruled from 1042 to 1066. Edward was the son of Æth ...

, for whom Henry had a deep admiration.

Variant forms

The name has been adopted in the Iberian peninsula since the 15th century, due to

Edward, King of Portugal Edward ( pt, Duarte (; 31 October 1391 – 9 September 1438), also called Edward the King Philosopher (''Duarte o Rei-Filósofo'') or the Eloquent (''o Eloquente''), was the King of Portugal from 1433 until his death. He was born in Viseu, the son ...

, whose mother was English. The Spanish/Portuguese forms of the name are Eduardo and

Duarte Duarte may refer to: * Duarte (surname), person's surname (or composed surname) and given name * Duarte, California, United States * Duarte Province, Dominican Republic * Pico Duarte Pico Duarte is the highest peak in the Dominican Republic, on th ...

. Other variant forms include French Édouard, Italian

Edoardo Edoardo is the Italian form of the English male given name Edward. Notable people named Edoardo include: * Edoardo Agnelli (industrialist) (1892–1935), Italian industrialist * Edoardo Alfieri (1913–1998), Italian sculptor * Edoardo Amaldi (1908 ...

and

Odoardo Odoardo is a given name. Notable people with the name include: *Odoardo Barri (1844–1920), the pseudonym of Edward Slater *Odoardo Beccari (1843–1920), Italian naturalist, discovered the titan arum in Sumatra in 1878 *Odoardo Borrani (1833–19 ...

, German, Dutch, Czech and Romanian Eduard and Scandinavian Edvard. Short forms include Ed, Eddy, Eddie, Ted, Teddy and Ned.

People called Edward

Medieval

* Edward the Elder (c. 874–924), the son of Alfred the Great * Edward the Martyr (c. 962–978), English king and Christian martyr *

(c. 1003–1066), English King; patron saint of England until 1348 * Edward I of England (1239–1307), called Longshanks; conqueror of Wales *

Edward Balliol Edward Balliol (; 1283 – January 1364) was a claimant to the Scottish throne during the Second War of Scottish Independence. With English help, he ruled parts of the kingdom from 1332 to 1356. Early life Edward was the eldest son of John Ba ...

(c. 1283–1367), pretender to the Scottish throne during the reign of David II * Edward II of England (1284–1327), deposed in January 1327, probably murdered * Edward III of England (1312–1377), English king * Edward, the Black Prince (1330–1376), eldest son of King Edward III *

Edward, Duke of Guelders Edward (12 March 1336 – 24 August 1371) was the duke of Guelders and count of Zutphen from 1361 until 1371. He was the youngest son of Duke Reginald II of Guelders and his second wife, Eleanor of Woodstock, daughter of King Edward II of England. ...

(1336–1371) *

Edward IV of England Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England ...

(1442–1483), older brother of Richard III, father of Edward V * Edward V of England (1470–c. 1483), one of the princes in the Tower

Modern

Royalty and nobility

* Edward VI of England (1537–1553), the son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour *

Edward, Count Palatine of Simmern Edward, Prince Palatine of the Rhine (''Eduard, Prinz von der Pfalz'') (5 October 1625 – 10 March 1663), was the sixth son of Frederick V, Elector Palatine (of the House of Wittelsbach), the "Winter King" of Bohemia, by his consort, the Scot ...

(1625–1663), Count Palatine * Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany (1739–1767), brother of George III * Lord Edward FitzGerald (1763–1798), Irish aristocrat and revolutionary *

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, (Edward Augustus; 2 November 1767 – 23 January 1820) was the fourth son and fifth child of King George III. His only legitimate child became Queen Victoria. Prince Edward was created Duke of Kent an ...

(1767–1820), the son of George III, father of Queen Victoria *

Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar Prince William Augustus Edward of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, , PC(Ire) (11 October 1823 – 16 November 1902) was a British military officer of German parents. After a career in the Grenadier Guards, he became Major General commanding the Brigade o ...

(1823–1902), son of Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach * Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar (1827–1904), wife of Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar *

Edward VII of the United Kingdom Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria an ...

(1841–1910), the son of Queen Victoria *

Lord Edward Cecil Lord Edward Herbert Gascoyne-Cecil (12 July 1867 – 13 December 1918), known as Lord Edward Cecil, was a distinguished and highly decorated English soldier. As colonial administrator in Egypt and advisor to the Liberal government, he helped t ...

(1867–1918), son of the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury * Edward VIII of the United Kingdom (1894–1972), the son of George V, abdicated * Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (born 1935), grandson of George V * Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar (born 1964), the son of Queen Elizabeth II *

Lady Edward Manners Gabrielle Elizabeth Frances Ross, known upon her marriage as Lady Edward Manners, (born 1975) is a British businesswoman, fashion designer, and aristocrat. She is the second wife of Lord Edward Manners, a younger son of Charles Manners, 10th Duke ...

(born 1975), wife of Lord Edward Manners and daughter-in-law of the 10th Duke of Rutland *

Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick Edward Edmund Maximilian George Windsor, Lord Downpatrick (born 2 December 1988), known professionally as Eddy Downpatrick, is an English fashion designer and former financial analyst. He is the co-founder and creative director of the British fa ...

(born 1988), the grandson of The Duke of Kent

Politicians

* Edward Dickinson Baker (1811-1861) was an American politician, lawyer, and military leader, close friend of Abraham Lincoln *

Edward Dembowski Edward Dembowski (25 April or 31 May 1822 – 27 February 1846) was a Polish philosopher, literary critic, journalist, and leftist independence activist."Dembowski, Edward," ''Encyklopedia Polski'' (Encyclopedia of Poland), p. 128. Life Edward De ...

(1822–1846), Polish leftist, philosopher and columnist * Edward Gierek (1913–2001), First Secretary of Polish United Workers Party from 1970 to 1980 * Edward Heath (1916–2005), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom *

Edward Jayetileke Sir Edward George Perera Jayetileke KC was the 29th Chief Justice of Ceylon as well as the 13th Solicitor General. He was appointed in 1950 succeeding Arthur Wijewardena and was Chief Justice until 1952. He was succeeded by Alan Rose. Jayetil ...

, Chief Justice of Sri Lanka from 1950 to 1952 *

Edward Stanley Kellogg Edward Stanley Kellogg (August 20, 1870 – January 8, 1948) was a United States Navy Captain who served as the governor of American Samoa. Kellogg graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1892 and joined the Naval Engineer Corps. He ...

(1870–1948), 16th Governor of American Samoa, former United States senator * Edward "Ted" M. Kennedy (1932–2009), American politician, lawyer, and senator, Kennedy family member * Edward M. Kennedy Jr. (born 1961), American politician and lawyer, son of Ted Kennedy * Ed Miliband (born 1969), British politician, former leader of the Labour Party * Ed Murray (born 1955), Democratic politician and former Mayor of Seattle *

Edward Nothnagle Edward Nothnagle (November 20, 1866 – February 14, 1938) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Delaware County, Pennsylva ...

(1866-1938), Pennsylvania State Representative * Edward Alexander Nugawela (1898–1972), Sri Lankan Sinhala politician and army major *

Edward L. Romero Edward L. Romero (also Romæro, born January 2, 1934) is an American entrepreneur, activist and former diplomat. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra between the years of 1998 and 2001 and has engaged in various environmental and ...

, entrepreneur and American diplomat who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra between 1998 and 2001 *

Edward Stettinius, Jr. Edward Reilly Stettinius Jr. (October 22, 1900 – October 31, 1949) was an American businessman who served as United States Secretary of State under Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman from 1944 to 1945, and as U.S. Ambassador ...

(1900–1949), United States Secretary of State *

Edward L. Stokes Edward Lowber Stokes (September 29, 1880 – November 8, 1964) was an American politician from Philadelphia who served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district from 1931 to 1933 and ...

(1880-1964), U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania * Edward Maria Wingfield (1550–1631), English colonist and soldier * Edward Youde (1924–1986), 26th Governor of Hong Kong

Artists and intellectuals

Edward Asare Edward Asare (born 10 July 1993) is Ghanaian blogger, Influencer, and a digital marketer. He was nominated among the Top 50 Ghanaian Bloggers in 2021 by Avance Media and was awarded Ghana's Digital Marketing Professional of the Year by the Nation ...

(born 1993), Ghanaian Blogger and a Digital Marketing Professional * Edward Barker, English cartoonist who signed his drawings simply as Edward *

Edward Blishen Edward Blishen (29 April 1920 – 13 December 1996) was an English author and broadcaster. He may be known best for the first of two children's novels based on Greek mythology, written with Leon Garfield, illustrated by Charles Keeping, and pub ...

, English author *

Ed Byrne (academic) Sir Edward Byrne (born 1952) is a neuroscientist who served as Principal of King's College London from August 2014 until January 2021.

, Principal of King's College London and former Vice-Chancellor of Monash University * Edward Duyker (born 1955), Australian historian *

Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...

(1857–1934), English composer *

Edward Gamble Edward Gamble (18 September 1935 – 31 December 2016) was a Canadian archer. He competed in the men's individual event at the 1976 Summer Olympics Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social a ...

, English comedian *

Edward Gibbons Edward Gibbons ( bapt. 21 March 1568 – in or before July 1650) was an English choirmaster and composer of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. Born in Cambridge, Gibbons's youth is completely unknown, but he later received degrees ...

, English musician *

Edward Gorey Edward St. John Gorey (February 22, 1925 – April 15, 2000) was an Americans, American writer, Tony Award-winning costume designer, and artist, noted for his own illustrated books as well as cover art and illustration for books by other w ...

, American illustrator * Edward Gould (1988-2012), English animator and creator of Eddsworld * Edward Grimes, one of the two members of Irish pop duo Jedward * Edward Hopper (1882–1967), American realist painter * Edward Jayakody (born 1952), Sri Lankan Sinhala musician and composer *

Edward Killy Edward Arthur Killy (January 26, 1903 – July 2, 1981) was an American director, assistant director and production manager in films and television. He was one of the few individuals to be nominated for the short-lived Academy Award for Best ...

, American filmmaker *

Edward Daniel Leahy Edward Daniel Leahy (1797 – 9 February 1875) was an Irish portrait and subject painter. He was trained in Dublin, where he began his career before establishing himself in London. Biography According to Walter Strickland's ''Dictionary of Irish ...

, Irish painter * Edward MacDowell (1860–1908), American composer and pianist * Edward Norton (born 1969), American actor * Edward Platt, (1916-1974), American actor *

Edward G. Robinson Edward G. Robinson (born Emanuel Goldenberg; December 12, 1893January 26, 1973) was a Romanian-American actor of stage and screen, who was popular during the Hollywood's Golden Age. He appeared in 30 Broadway plays and more than 100 films duri ...

, (1893-1973), Romanian-American actor * Edward John David "Eddie" Redmayne (born 1982), English actor * Edward Said (1935–2003), Palestinian-American academic * Ed Sheeran, English singer-songwriter and musician *

Edward van de Vendel Edward van de Vendel (born 1 August 1964) is a Dutch writer of children's literature. Early life Van de Vendel was born in 1964 in Leerdam, Netherlands. He worked as a teacher for several years before becoming a full-time writer in 2001. Ca ...

, Dutch author of children's literature * Edward "Eddie" Van Halen (1955-2020), Dutch-American musician *

Eddie Vedder Eddie Jerome Vedder (born Edward Louis Severson III; December 23, 1964) is an American singer, musician, and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and one of four guitarists of the rock band Pearl Jam. He also appeared as a guest vocalist i ...

, American singer, musician, songwriter *

Edward W. Hardy Edward W. Hardy (born January 12, 1992) is an American composer, music director, violinist and violist. He is known as the composer, co-conceiver, music director, and violinist of the Off-Broadway show '' The Woodsman'' and is the owner of '' ...

(born 1992), American composer, musician, and producer

Sports

Edward Scott Bozek Edward Scott Bozek (November 20, 1950 – January 7, 2022), also known as Scotty Bozek, was an American épée fencing, fencer. He competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics, 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. Bozek earned a degree in Russian Studies f ...

(1950–2022), American Olympic épée fencer * Edward Fatu (1973–2009), American professional wrestler better known as Umaga, member of

Anoa'i family The Anoaʻi family ( ) is a family of professional wrestlers originating from American Samoa. Family members have comprised several tag teams and stables within a variety of promotions. Famous members of the family include Rosey, WWE Hall of Fam ...

Ed Gainey (Canadian football) Edward Eugene Gainey (born June 6, 1990) is a Canadian football defensive back for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Appalachian State University. He has also been a member of the Saskatchewan R ...

, American player of Canadian football * Eddie Guerrero (1967–2005), American professional wrestler * Ed Hochuli (born 1950), NFL official * Ed Hodgkiss (born 1970), American football coach * Edward Lawrence Levy, English world champion weightlifter * Ed Mieszkowski (1925–2004), American football player * Ed Orgeron (born 1961), American football coach * Edward Pratt, British long-distance unicyclist * Edward Weitz (born 1946), Israeli Olympic weightlifter

Other people

* Ed White (astronaut), Edward H. White II (1930–1967) American astronaut * Edward Allaway (born 1939), American mass murderer who perpetrated the 1976 California State University, Fullerton, massacre * Rohan Amerasekera, Edward Rohan Amerasekera (1916–1974), first indigenous Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force * Edward Harold Bell (1939–2019), American sex offender and murderer * Edward and Elaine Brown, Edward Brown (born 1942), American involved in a tax dispute with the U.S. government * Edward Douglas (bishop) (1901–1967), Scottish Roman Catholic * Edward Edwards (disambiguation), several people * Edward F. Fritsch (born 1950), American scientist * Ed Gein, Edward "Ed" Gein (1906–1984), American murderer and suspected serial killer * Edward Lagrone (1957–2004), American serial killer and rapist * Edward Kmiec (1936–2020), American Catholic bishop * Edward Baker Lincoln (1846–1850), second son of Abraham Lincoln * Edward Mosberg (1926-2022), Polish-American Holocaust survivor, educator, and philanthropist * Edward Playfair, British businessman * Edward Porta (born 1954), Argentinian former textile trader * Edward Snowden (born 1983), American who disclosed National Security Agency secrets * Ed Smith (disambiguation), Edward Smith (disambiguation), several people

People surnamed Edward

* John Edward, professional name of John Edward McGee, Jr. (born 1969), American self-proclaimed psychic * Trevelyan Edward (1938–1995), Sri Lankan cricketer

Fictional characters

* ''Ed, Edd n Eddy'', television show, as well as main characters thereof * List of characters in Camp Lazlo#Edward, Edward, fictional platypus from ''Camp Lazlo'' * List of Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn characters#Dawn Brigade, Edward, in ''Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn'' * List of Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter characters#Other humans, Edward AKA: DEATH, a main character and assassin from the ''Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter'' series * Winnie the Pooh#First publication, Edward Bear, mock "formal" name for a teddy bear—another name for Winnie-the-Pooh * Edward the Blue Engine, from ''Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends'' * Eddie Brock, a character from Marvel Comics; the best known incarnation of Venom (character), Venom * Edward Bunnigus, in the webcomic Schlock Mercenary#Main characters, ''Schlock Mercenary'' * Edward Cullen, the vampire love-interest in the fantasy/romance novels of Stephenie Meyer's ''Twilight (novel series), Twilight Series'' * Edward Elric, the protagonist in the anime/manga series, ''Fullmetal Alchemist'' * Edward Ferrars, in ''Sense and Sensibility'' by Jane Austen * Edward Gardner, in the 1997 French-American fantasy drama movie ''FairyTale: A True Story#Cast, FairyTale: A True Story'' * Edward 'Ted' Hasting, from British TV series ''Line of Duty'' * Edward Elizabeth Hitler, a character from British TV series ''Bottom'' * Edward Hyde (fictional character), Edward Hyde, the title character's evil alter ego in ''Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' by Robert Louis Stevenson * Edward Kenway, Edward James Kenway, a character from the ''Assassin's Creed'' video game franchise, appearing as the protagonist of ''Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag'' * Edward Mars, the shipwrecked marshal in American TV series ''Lost (TV series), Lost'' * Whitebeard (Edward Newgate), Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate, the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates in the ''One Piece'' manga series * Edward Nigma, aka The Riddler, a supervillain from DC Comics * Edward Richtofen, a sociopathic German scientist from ''Call of Duty: World at War''; appears in the Nazi Zombies mode as well as in ''Call of Duty: Black Ops'' and ''Call of Duty: Black Ops II'' * Edward Fairfax Rochester, the love interest of Jane in ''Jane Eyre'' * ''Edward Scissorhands'', title character of the eponymous film * Edward "Stubbs" Stubblefield, the fictional undead from the ''Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse'' video game * Blackbeard in popular culture, Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, fictionalized versions of the Blackbeard, historical figure of the same name from various media * Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV, from the anime ''Cowboy Bebop'' * Edward Chris von Muir, "spoony bard" from ''Final Fantasy IV'' * Edward "Ed" Lillywhite Norton, Ed Norton, a character played by Art Carney in American sitcom ''The Honeymooners'' * Mister Ed, the talking horse, from the Mister Ed, television series of the same name * List of Corner Shop Show characters#Recurring characters, Edward the Butler, played by Lachlan Walker in the web-series Corner Shop Show

References

{{given name English-language masculine given names English masculine given names Old English personal names