Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the

Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons, in some contexts simply called Saxons or the English, were a Cultural identity, cultural group who spoke Old English and inhabited much of what is now England and south-eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. They traced t ...

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

History

The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Saxon England, but the rule of the Norman 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 (Latin: Malleus Scotorum), was King of England from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he was Lord of Ireland, and from 125 ...

, as part of his efforts to promote a cult around

Edward the Confessor Edward the Confessor ( 1003 – 5 January 1066) was King of England from 1042 until his death in 1066. He was the last reigning monarch of the House of Wessex. Edward was the son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy. He succeede ...

, for whom Henry had a deep admiration.

Variant forms

The name has been adopted in the

Iberian peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...

since the 15th century, due to

Edward, King of Portugal Edward ( ; 31 October 1391 – 9 September 1438), also called Edward the Philosopher King (''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 of John I o ...

, whose mother was English. The Spanish/Portuguese forms of the name are Eduardo and Duarte. Other variant forms include French Édouard, Italian

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

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 Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots (Latin: Malleus Scotorum), was King of England from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he was Lord of Ireland, and from 1254 ...

(1239–1307), called Longshanks; conqueror of Wales * Edward Balliol (c. 1283–1367), pretender to the Scottish throne during the reign of David II *

Edward II of England Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne follo ...

(1284–1327), deposed in January 1327, probably murdered *

Edward III of England Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring royal authority after t ...

(1312–1377), English king * Edward, the Black Prince (1330–1376), eldest son of King Edward III * Edward, Duke of Guelders (1336–1371) * Edward IV of 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 Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and King of Ireland, Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. The only surviving son of Henry VIII by his thi ...

(1537–1553), the son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour * Edward, Count Palatine of Simmern (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 (1767–1820), the son of George III, father of Queen Victoria * Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar (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 (1841–1910), the son of Queen Victoria * Lord Edward Cecil (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, Duke of Edinburgh Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (Edward Antony Richard Louis; born 10 March 1964) is a member of the British royal family. He is the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the youngest sibling of King ...

(born 1964), the son of Queen Elizabeth II * Lady Edward Manners (born 1975), wife of Lord Edward Manners and daughter-in-law of the 10th Duke of Rutland * Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick (born 1988), the grandson of The Duke of Kent

Politicians

* Edward D. Baker (1811–1861), American politician, lawyer, and military leader, close friend of Abraham Lincoln * Edward Butcher, American politician * W. Edward Crockett, American politician from Maine * Edward Dembowski (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), British Conservative politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 * Edward Jayetileke, Chief Justice of Sri Lanka from 1950 to 1952 * Edward Stanley Kellogg (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 John Lampron (1909–1983), justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court * 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 * Edward Joy Morris (1815-1881), U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania * Ed Murray (born 1955), Democratic politician and former Mayor of Seattle * Edward Nothnagle (1866–1938), Pennsylvania State Representative * Edward Alexander Nugawela (1898–1972), Sri Lankan Sinhala politician and army major * Edward Polewarczyk, American politician * Edward "Ed" Ra, American politician * Edward L. Romero, entrepreneur and American diplomat who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra between 1998 and 2001 * Edward Stettinius Jr. (1900–1949), United States Secretary of State * Edward L. Stokes (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 (born 1993), Ghanaian blogger, influencer, and digital marketer *

Edward Baranoski Edward Baranoski, from Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), McLean, VA, was named Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2016 for leadership in knowledge-aided radar systems for indoor envir ...

* Edward Barker (1950–1997), English cartoonist who signed his drawings simply as Edward * Edward Blishen (1920–1996), English author * Ed Byrne (neuroscientist) (born 1952), British neuroscientist and university administrator * 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 (born 1986), English comedian * Edward Gibbons, English choirmaster and composer * Edward Gorey (1925–2000), American illustrator * Edward Gould (1988–2012), English animator and creator of Eddsworld *

Edvard Grieg Edvard Hagerup Grieg ( , ; 15 June 18434 September 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is widely considered one of the leading Romantic music, Romantic era composers, and his music is part of the standard classical repertoire worldwid ...

(1842-1907), Norwegian classical music composer * Edward Grimes, one of the two members of Irish pop duo Jedward * Edward Grochowicz (1939–2014), Polish photographer * Edward Thomas Hardy, English actor, better known as Tom Hardy * Edward W. Hardy (born 1992), American composer, musician, and producer *

Edward Hopper Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882 – May 15, 1967) was an American realism painter and printmaker. He is one of America's most renowned artists and known for his skill in depicting modern American life and landscapes. Born in Nyack, New York, to a ...

(1882–1967), American realist painter * Edward Jayakody (born 1952), Sri Lankan Sinhala musician and composer * Edward Killy, American filmmaker * Edward Daniel Leahy, Irish painter * Edward Linden (1935–2023), known as Eddie Linden, Scottish poet and magazine editor * Edward MacDowell (1860–1908), American composer and pianist * Edward Maya, Romanian singer, record producer and DJ * Edward McClanahan (1932-2021), American professor * Edward Coppée Mitchell (1836-1886), American lawyer and educator *

Edvard Munch Edvard Munch ( ; ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter. His 1893 work ''The Scream'' has become one of Western art's most acclaimed images. His childhood was overshadowed by illness, bereavement and the dread of inher ...

(1863-1944), Norwegian painter * Edward Norton (born 1969), American actor * Edward Platt (1916–1974), American actor * Edward John David "Eddie" Redmayne (born 1982), English actor * Edward Ayearst Reeves (1862–1945), British geographer * Edward G. Robinson, (1893–1973), Romanian-American actor *

Edward Said Edward Wadie Said (1 November 1935 – 24 September 2003) was a Palestinian-American academic, literary critic, and political activist. As a professor of literature at Columbia University, he was among the founders of Postcolonialism, post-co ...

(1935–2003), Palestinian-American academic * Edward Sene (born 2000), Finnish artist *

Ed Sheeran Edward Christopher Sheeran ( ; born 17 February 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he began writing songs around the age of eleven. In early 2011, Sheeran independently r ...

, English singer-songwriter and musician * Ed Speleers, English actor * Edward van de Vendel, Dutch author of children's literature * Edward "Eddie" Van Halen (1955–2020), Dutch-American musician * Eddie Vedder, American singer, musician, songwriter

Sports

* Edward Bozek (1950–2022), American Olympic épée fencer * Edward Fatu (1973–2009), American professional wrestler better known as Umaga, member of Anoaʻi family * Ed Gainey (Canadian football), American player of Canadian football *

Eddie Guerrero Eduardo Gory Guerrero Llanes (October 9, 1967 – November 13, 2005) was an American professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He was best known for his tenures in WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and World Championship Wrestling ...

(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 * Edward Meron (born 1938), Arab-Israeli Olympic weightlifter * Ed Mieszkowski (1925–2004), American football player * Ed Orgeron (born 1961), American football coach * Edward Pratt, British long-distance unicyclist * Edward J. Trembly (1860–1937), American baseball player * Edward Weitz (born 1946), Israeli Olympic weightlifter * Ed Woods (born 2002), American football player

Other people

* Edward H. White II (1930–1967) American astronaut * Edward Allaway (born 1939), American mass murderer who perpetrated the 1976 California State University, Fullerton, massacre * 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 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 * 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 McSweegan, American microbiologist * Edward R. Murrow (1908-1965), American broadcast journalist * Edward Playfair, British businessman * Edward Popek (1919-2001), American flying ace * Edward Porta (born 1954), Argentine former textile trader * Edward Shanbrom (1924-2012), American medical researcher and hematologist * Edward Snowden (born 1983), American who disclosed National Security Agency secrets * Edward Smith (disambiguation), several people

People surnamed Edward

John Edward John Edward McGee Jr. (born October 19, 1969) is an American television personality, writer and self-proclaimed psychic medium. After writing his first book on the subject in 1998, Edward became a well-known (and controversial) figure in the ...

, professional name of John Edward McGee, Jr. (born 1969), American self-proclaimed psychic * Olivia Edward (born 2007), American actress * Trevelyan Edward (1938–1995), Sri Lankan cricketer

Fictional characters

* '' Ed, Edd n Eddy'', television show, as well as main characters thereof *

Edward Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-S ...

, an anthropomorphic platypus from '' Camp Lazlo'' *

, in '' Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn'' * Edward AKA: DEATH, a main character and assassin from the '' Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter'' series * Edward Bear, mock "formal" name for a

teddy bear A teddy bear, or simply a teddy, is a stuffed toy in the form of a bear. The teddy bear was named by Morris Michtom after the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt; it was developed apparently simultaneously in the first deca ...

—another name for Winnie-the-Pooh * Edward the Blue Engine, a character from ''

The Railway Series ''The Railway Series'' is a series of British books about a railway known as the North Western Railway, located on the fictional Sodor (fictional island), Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first published in May 1945 by Wi ...

'' and ''

Thomas & Friends ''Thomas & Friends'' is a British children's television series which aired from 9 October 1984 to 20 January 2021. Based on ''The Railway Series'' books by Wilbert Awdry and his son Christopher Awdry, Christopher, the series was developed for ...

'' * Eddie Brock, a character from

Marvel Marvel may refer to: Business * Marvel Entertainment, an American entertainment company ** Marvel Comics, the primary imprint of Marvel Entertainment ** Marvel Universe, a fictional shared universe ** Marvel Music, an imprint of Marvel Comics ...

; the best known incarnation of

Venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

* Edward Bunnigus, in the webcomic ''Schlock Mercenary'' * Edward Cullen, the vampire love-interest in the fantasy/romance novels of

Stephenie Meyer Stephenie Meyer (; Morgan; born December 24, 1973) is an American novelist and film producer. She is best known for writing the vampire literature, vampire romance series ''Twilight (novel series), Twilight'', which has sold over 160 million ...

's '' 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'' * Edward "Ted" Hasting, from British television series ''

Line of Duty ''Line of Duty'' is a British police procedural and serial drama television programme created by Jed Mercurio and produced by World Productions for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It began broadcasting on BBC Two on 26 June 2012. ...

'' * Edward Elizabeth Hitler, a character from British television series ''Bottom'' * Edward Hyde, the title character's evil alter ego in '' Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' by Robert Louis Stevenson * Edward James Kenway, a character from the ''

Assassin's Creed ''Assassin's Creed'' is a historical fiction, historical action-adventure video game series and media franchise published by Ubisoft and developed mainly by its studio Ubisoft Montreal using the game engine Anvil (game engine), Anvil and its m ...

'' video game franchise, appearing as the protagonist of '' Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag'' * Edward Lewis, a wealthy corporate raider and the male protagonist in '' Pretty Woman'' * Edward Mars, the shipwrecked marshal in American television series '' Lost'' * Edward Gerald Marshall, the forgotten U.S. President in the British comic book series '' Nemesis: Reloaded'' * Edward "Eddie" Munson, from the American television series '' Stranger Things'' * Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate, the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates in the '' One Piece'' manga series * Edward Nigma, aka The Riddler, a supervillain from DC * 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'', '' Call of Duty: Black Ops II'', '' Call Of Duty: Black Ops III'', '' Call Of Duty: Black Ops IIII'', and the Dark Horse comic series ''Call Of Duty: Zombies'' * 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 * Edward Tanaka, a character from Sonic X * Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, fictionalized versions of the 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'' * Ed Norton, a character played by Art Carney in American sitcom ''

The Honeymooners ''The Honeymooners'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired from 1955 to 1956, created by and starring Jackie Gleason, and based on a recurring comedy sketch of the same name that had been part of Gleason's variety show. It f ...

'' * Mister Ed, the talking horse, from the television series of the same name * Edward the Butler, played by Lachlan Walker in the web-series ''Corner Shop Show'' * Edward Trunk, an elephant from the '' Rupert Bear'' franchise

References

{{given name, cat=Old English masculine given names English-language masculine given names English masculine given names Masculine given names Lists of people by given name