This English surname of Edwards means son of Edward. The Old English word of ‘Eadward,’ is composed of the element ‘ead’ which means prosperity or fortune and the ‘ward’ - ‘werd’ which means guard. In Middle English it is the given name of Edward which means ‘prosperous guardian.’

Edwards can be spelled the following ways Edward, Edwart, Edwardes and Edwardson.

In England most with the Edwards surname live in Lancashire county and the London area. It is the region of Wales which have the highest number of Edwards families, especially in the county of Glamorgan. Scotland has many with the Edwards name in the eastern half of the region. Many Edwards from the United Kingdom later settled in Australia and Canada.

Within the United States Edwards are found in Texas, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, Missouri, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New York.

Famous: Graham Edwards (English novelist), Jango Edwards (clown and entertainer), Eddie Edwards (tennis player of South Africa), Douglas Edwards (TV news anchor), Daniel Edwards (sculptor), Amelia Edwards (19th century novelist and journalist), Derek Edwards (comic from Canada) and Gus Edwards (songwriter and vaudevillian).