Seaward

Seaward
This interesting surname is of early medieval English origin, and has two distinct possible sources, each with its own history and derivation. Firstly, the name may derive from Siward or Seward, Middle English male given names, derived respectively from the Olde English pre 7th Century "Sigheweard" and "Saeweard", composed of the elements "sige", victory, and "sae", sea, with "weard", guard, lord. Pre 7th Century Anglo-Saxon and Norse baptismal names were usually distinctive compounds whose elements were often associated with the Gods of Fire, Water and War. The above names appear variously as "Siuuard, Seuuard" and "Sauuard" in the Domesday Book of 1086. Early examples of the surname from this source include: Richard Syward (Cambridgeshire, 1260); Richard Seward (Shropshire, 1275); John Sywart (Suffolk, 1273) and William Saywart (Cheshire, 1385). In the Danelaw areas of England, the Old Danish "Sigwarth", cognate with the Olde English "Sigheweard" (as above) is the most likely source. Occasionally, Seaward may have originated as an occupational name for a swineherd, from the Olde English "su", pig, and "hierde", herdsman. One Alicia Sueherd was noted in the 1379 Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire. John Seaward, an early emigrant to America, was recorded in a Census of those resident in Virginia on February 16th 1623. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Siward, which was dated 1235, in the "Feet of Fines of Oxfordshire", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Seaward — Sea ward, a. Directed or situated toward the sea. Donne. [1913 Webster] Two still clouds . . . sparkled on their seaward edges like a frosted fleece. G. W. Cable. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Seaward — Sea ward, adv. Toward the sea. Drayton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Seaward — (spr. Sihwerd), um 617 König von Essex, s. England (Gesch.) S. 710 …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • seaward — [sē′wərd] n. a direction or position away from the land and toward the sea adj. 1. directed, going, or situated toward the sea 2. from the sea: said of a wind adv. toward, or in the direction of, the sea: also seawards …   English World dictionary

  • seaward — [[t]si͟ːwə(r)d[/t]] (The form seawards can also be used for meaning 1.) 1) ADV: ADV after v Something that moves or faces seaward or seawards moves or faces in the direction of the sea or further out to sea. A barge was about a hundred yards away …   English dictionary

  • Seaward — Based in Peterlee, County Durham Seaward manufactures electronic test equipment for the electric, medical and test industry.The company also had a site in Worthing England which has now moved to the main site in Peterlee they also have a… …   Wikipedia

  • seaward — /see weuhrd/, adv. 1. Also, seawards. toward the sea: a storm moving seaward. adj. 2. facing or tending toward the sea: a seaward course. 3. coming from the sea: a seaward wind. n. 4. the direction toward the sea or away from the land. [1350… …   Universalium

  • seaward — sea|ward [ˈsi:wəd US wərd] adj [only before noun] facing towards the sea ▪ Keep to the seaward side of the path. >seaward also seawards adv …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • seaward — sea|ward [ siwərd ] adjective 1. ) the seaward side of something is nearest the ocean 2. ) coming from the ocean: a seaward breeze …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • seaward — adjective facing or directed towards the sea: the seaward side of the town | seaward wind/breeze (=going towards the sea) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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