Last name: Aylward

This interesting surname derives from a popular Germanic personal name, found in the Olde English pre 7th Century as "Aethelweard", composed of the elements "adal" meaning noble, and "ward", guard. The given names "Aegelward" and "Ailuuard" are found in the Domesday Book of 1086. The surname was first recorded in the early 13th Century, and other early recordings include: Godric filius (son of) Aeilwardi, noted in the 1229 Close Rolls of Gloucestershire, and Nicholas Eylward, a witness in the Assize Court Rolls of Somerset, dated 1243. In the modern idiom the surname has many variant spellings including: Aylward, Ailward, Allward and Aluard. An interesting namebearer, recorded in the "Dictionary of National Biography", was Theodore Aylward (1730 - 1801), who was professor of music of Gresham College in 1771, and the organist at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, in 1788. A Coat of Arms granted to the Aylward family depicts a leopards face between four gold lozenges on a blue saltire, between four red griffins heads erased, all on a silver shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Ailward, which was dated 1201, in the "Pipe Rolls of Hampshire", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. 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.

Visitor Comments

Hilary R
My cousin from New Zealand has managed to trace some family but as she is coming over next year it would be great if I could trace some more for her!

selby bos
the woman I new as my greatgrandmother was Katheen lambert nee aylward she was agrand old lady and alot of fun .i have seen an old photo of her father with his mother taken in hobart town tasmania I am now living in holland but if you want more info please contact me.i know she had to sisters called ruby and jean

taylwardmd
my information is that the name AYLWARD came from Norman origins and means "the archer."

Robert Darren Aylward
Well; my name is Darren Aylward and from what I understand the ward part simply means guard or warden. The Ayl or Ail means garlic in the Celtic language. I've have always been told the surname is of Irish ancestry. Anyway hi to all the Aylwards out there!

M Aylward
warden or the ayl was my understanding - thought it was irish and means beer keeper!

Janis Aylward
That was my understanding also but all this history on the name is very interesting!

Janis Aylward
PS I am from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada

Kevin Aylward
Read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The White Company' and 'Sir Nigel'. Samkin Aylward is one of the main characters. My understanding is Aylward is derived from Anglo Norman and means noble guardian, which fits in part with the Germanic theory. Hello from Chester,via Liverpool

N Aylward
Hi Kevin Have you got any relatives in Ellesmere port?

Kein Aylward
It's only been a year for a response, sorry for the delay. I believe there are a number of Aylwards in Ellesmere Port, one of which has the same first name and date of birth as myself. I'm unaware if they are related, but, I think there is a strong chance.

Annette
Hi we are an Aylward family living in England. My father and all his family are born and bread in Ireland . Where the name originates from we have been able to trace family members from Australia and America, who all originate from Ireland

Janis Aylward
This is my understanding also I am living in Winnipeg, Manitoba , Canada hi!

Shea Aylward
The Aylward name in Ireland is from Norman Origin and has a completely different coat of arms /heraldry to what many of the Internet sites publish as being the history of the name. The Crest bears the "Fleur-de-lis" (aka Fleur-de-lys) symbol which shows its French connection. http://www.irishgathering.ie/clan_info.asp?clanID=30 shows a image of the Irish coat of arms for Aylward. I have been told that their is an Kights Templar link to the name and that the first Aylward in Ireland was a Knight Templar rewarded with land by the chruch for services rendered. While I have not been able to find evidence of this "Templar link", I know that there was substantial land and a Castle owned by the Aylwards in County Wexford (around Faithlegg) up until the War with the English when the Aylward Lord of the region fought and lost against Oliver Cromwells forces in 1649. There is also a small town in County Kilkenny called Aylwardstown. The name Aylward in Ireland remains stongest in the Wexford and Kilkenny regions.

N Aylward
I'm an Aylward too wow there are loads who have got the same surname. our family live in the north west of england and i thought our surname originated from Ireland too. hello Aylward's.

Mark John Aylward
Hi Guys yes another one. Mark John Aylward from Newcastle Australia. From the information I gathered 30years ago there were two interpretations. One was "in awe and dread" the other which is easier to see in the breakdown of Aylward is as stated above "Nobel Protector" Ayl, I have always asumed to be Noble and ward is protector. I have not traced my family back past the obvious bits of information we have at hand. My Grandfather Philip John Aylward came from New Zealand, Thomas his father and a brother also Phillip John Aylward I think (who had been landed as a military pensioner from Blenheim) were in Tasmania. Where we came from before that I don't know. I have always thought it must be Ireland. I did see quite a few Aylwards when in Ireland in 1982 and it was like Smith in the phone book in Nova Scotia and New Foundland when I was there also.

Mathew Aylward-Connor
My Glrandads brother, John Aylward, emigrated to Australia. No idea where, he came from Liverpool, England. We can trace back to Ireland though

Mark John Aylward
Hi Mathew, I think we are out by a couple of generations and a "philip" first name. What was your Grandads name?

Janis Aylward
Yes I am from the Canadian Aylwards and many are in the Maritimes lots from around Truo Nova Scotia - 3 brothers moved from the Maritimes to Northwestern Ontario around now Thunder Bay Ontario my grandfather Clarence was a shipbuilder and worked in the shipyards there and then created one of the first unions took his family back to the land in the dirty 1930s his father was a sea captain named Robert Aylward I am surprised about so many in South Africa also wow what a wonderful connection!

Lyn Kaica
Hi Mark, I am a direct descendant of Philip Aylward who came to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) as a miltary pensioner in 1850. I have been trying to track Philip John son of Thomas and am VERY excited to find your post. I have lots of info on the family in Tasmania and quite a bit in New Zealand. Would love to know where Philip John ended up. He seemed to get in trouble with bankruptcy in NZ so maybe took off! Lyn

Mark John Aylward
Hi Lyn. Philip and my Grandmother came over from NZ, had a shop in Sydney and then traveled a lot during the depression, they ended up settling in Wooten NSW near Bulahdelah (1hour north of Newcastle) 3 boys & 1 girl. My father, Ramon John Aylward was the 2nd of their children. Sydney the Eldest has died a few years back, Trevor, Una and my Dad are still alive. We need to get together and swap info. Mum & Dad have kept in touch with the NZ connection.

Marion Basil
Hi Mark, Looking for a Philip Pearce / Pierce Aylward who may have been born in Tasmania, went to N.Z. then may have returned To Australia with Emily Florence Gertrude Pinkerton or Thomas. Is one of your descendants?

Kerrie Price
Hi Marion, I am Mark's cousin and Philip Pearce Aylward is our grandfather, and Emily Pinkerton, our grandmother. I don't have much information at all, but have been searching for years. Anyone who can shed some light would be great. Thanks

Lyn Kaica
Hi Kerrie, I have been trying to contact you for years and had no luck. Would love to compare what you know. I am related through the Aylward family in Tasmania and directly from the "original" Philip Aylward. How do we make contact?

Kerrie Price
Hi Lyn, I've hit brick walls forever on the Aylwards. You can contact me via email on kerrieprice01@gmail.com. Can't wait to see what you have..Is the handsome fella in Port Arthur one of ours?...Thanks Kerrie

Kerrie Price
Hi Marion/Lyn, I am pretty sure our grandfather is Philip John Aylward, although there has been confusion that he was actually Phillip Pearce...and spelt with 2 L's not one...

Lyn Kaica
I'm pretty sure they are the same person. He started as Philip John Aylward but seems to have added the Pearce after he went to Australia, it mat have been to do with him being bankrupt. I have emailed you kerrie with my theory about the Pearce name.

Mark Aylward
Hi Lyn, Just checking to see if you had been back to this site. Keen to catch up. Regards Mark

Lyn Kaica
Hi Mark, have been away on holiday. We definitely need to caatch up. There is also a link with Marion (above).

Lyn Kaica
Would still like to exchange info.

Brian Mackenzie Aylward
Hi there, any Aylward's from Canada?

Tim Aylward
My family and I live in the Toronto, Ontario area. You?

Brian Aylward
Were from St. John's Newfoundland.

myrna
Hi Brian. I am working on my family tree and am seeking information on the Aylward family prior to 1871. My great grandmother was Catherine Aylward and was married to my great-grandfather in Bouctouche New Brunswick in 1871. Her father's name was Patrick Aylward and her mother Mary O'Connors. A Joseph Aylward was a witness at the marriage. Can you add anything to the Patrick Aylward side of the family. Thanks

Jacomi Aylward van der Merwe
Hi there, I am from south Africa. Any Aylward's from South Africa?

Freddie Aylward
Hi Jacomi, we are situated in Durbanville. Where are you situated?

Jacomi Aylward van der Merwe
Ellisras, Limpopo

Philipa
Hi, also an Aylward form South Africa trying to trace our ancestry

Freddie Aylward
Hi Philipa, where are you situated in SA

Freddie Aylward
Hi, I am Freddie Aylward and would like to get in touch with Aylwards worldwide. I am from South Africa (Durbanville particularly)

Philipa
Hi Freddie, we are from Joburg, originating in Pretoria. lots of Aylwards in Knysna, PE and some in Natal as well. Very few in Gauteng. My understanding is that all the Aylwards in SA have their origins from a set of brothers and a sister that came from Ireland around about the 1930-40's.I am currently researching all of this with the help of an Aylward cousin in the UK.

Liz Graham
Hi, do you have a "Koos" - probablyJacobus and/or his daughter Catherina Elizabeth Aylward (died about 1974 in Rustenburg) in your records anywhere? I'm trying to assist in drawing up a family tree - and looking for any information on them.

Philipa
Hi Liz, there was an uncle called Koos, not too sure about the daughter but will look up and let you know.

Ted Aylward
The Aylward clan may "Have a laugh & shed a few tears" by visiting my site www.Ted-Aylward.com There's a lot of us about. ATB Ted

Janice McPherson
I'm Janice McPherson(nee AYLWARD) When I was going to school I was the only one (apart from my brother with that name)And no one could ever spell it correctly. Amazing to see so many Aylwards worldwide - I am not alone. My grandfathers family came from Waterford in Ireland

Arlene Aylward
Hello Janice, this is your cousin Arlene. Nice to see so many Aylwards out there with so many interesting stories. Hope you are well. Haven't seen you in ages.

Brian Aylward
Any Aylward's here from Newfoundland Canada?

Luke Aylward
Yes I'm from Newfoundland

Ciara.
Seems as though the Aylwards are in far flung places about the world .In Ireland the name is mostly found in Co. Kilkenny and Waterford. Although it is not a very common name outside these counties, it is spreading.... My interest would be Aylwards from Co. Kilkenny.

Freddie
Hi, I'm Freddie Aylward from Durbanville, South Africa. My father was Ernest Hayhow Aylward.