Hayward History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Hayward is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a person who was in charge of protecting an enclosed forest from damage by vandals, animals, and poachers. The name was originally derived from the Old English haye, which meant enclosure. [1] Another source notes the name as an occupational name as in ” ‘the hayward,’ a keeper of cattle, literally ‘hedge-watcher'”. [2]

“The duties of the hayward were of a varied nature. His chief task seems to have been to guard the cattle at pasture; but he also protected the crops from thieves, trimmed the hedges, etc. In old poems he is generally represented as carrying a horn.” [3]

And to underscore the Saxon heritage, one learned source bluntly says “there is nothing Norman in this name.” [4]

Early Origins of the Hayward family

The surname Hayward was first found in Lancashire at Heywood, a town and chapelry, in the township of Heap, parish and union of Bury, hundred of Salford. “Heywood, in the Saxon, denotes the site of a wood in a field, or a wood surrounded by fields; a family of the same name resided here for many generations. ” [5] Heywood Hall was long the residence of the ancestors of the baronet’s family. [1]

One source notes “the son of John, the eldest son of William de Wiggenshall, who took the sir-name of Heyward, Hauuard, or Howard; and was the first of this Family of that Sir-name, which, as I take it, he took from the office of Heyward there.” [6]

The first record of the family was found in the Domesday Book of 1086 when Hauuart, an early spelling of the family name was listed in Yorkshire. [7]

Years later, Haward de Wihton was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1166 and later again, William, Stephen Haward was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Cheshire in 1332. [7]

As an occupational name, early records were scattered as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Adam le Hayward in Devon; Roger le Hayward in Buckinghamshire; and Alicia le Heyward in Huntingdonshire. 

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Robertus Hayward and Magota Hayward. [2]

Early History of the Hayward family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hayward research. Another 138 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1497, 1580, 1570, 1641, 1564, 1627, 1497, 1580, 1570, 1641, 1630, 1702, 1693, 1756, 1746, 1809 and 1776 are included under the topic Early Hayward History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hayward Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person’s name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Hayward include Hayward, Heyward, Haward, Haywood, Heywood and others.

Early Notables of the Hayward family (pre 1700)

Distinguished members of the family include Sir John Hayward (c. 1564-1627), a noted Elizabethan historian, lawyer and politician, born near Felixstowe, Suffolk; John Heywood (1497?-1580), an English poet, friend of Sir Thomas More, and a court musician and entertainer for Henry VII, Edward VI, and Queen Mary; Thomas Heywood (c.1570-1641), an English dramatist best known for “A Woman Killed with… 
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hayward Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hayward World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hayward is the 2,312^nd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. [8] However, in Canada, the name Hayward is ranked the 873^rd most popular surname with an estimated 6,110 people with that name. [9] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hayward is the 232^nd popular surname with an estimated 190 people with that name. [10] Australia ranks Hayward as 449^th with 8,370 people. [11] New Zealand ranks Hayward as 253^rd with 2,390 people. [12] The United Kingdom ranks Hayward as 311^st with 19,686 people. [13]

 Hayward migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Hayward were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: 

Hayward Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Thomas Hayward, who arrived in America in 1632 [14]
• Thomas Hayward, who landed in New England in 1634 [14]
• Thomas Hayward, who settled in New England in 1634 with his wife Susannah and five children
• Samuel Hayward, who settled in Boston in 1635
• Howell Hayward, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 [14]
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)