Edwards History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Welsh surname Edwards was derived from the personal name Edward. This name is in turn derived from the Old English forename “Eadweard,” which literally means “prosperity-guard.” [1]

Early Origins of the Edwards family

The surname Edwards was first found in Denbighshire (Welsh: Sir Ddinbych), a historic county in Northeast Wales, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. They claim descent from Einion Efell, Lord of Cynlleth, living in 1182, son of Madoc, Prince of Powys, who built Oswestry Castle in 1148.

His father was Madog ap Maredudd who died in 1160 and was the last Prince of the entire Kingdom of Powys, Wales.

“Edwards of Nanhoron descends from one of the royal tribes of Wales through Sir Griffith Lloyd and Sir Howell y Fwyallt; Edwards of Ness Strange descends from Einion Effel, lord of Cynllaeth, co. Montgomery, 1182; Edwards of Old-Court, co. Wicklow, claims from Roderick the Great, king of all Wales in 843, through his younger son, Tudwall Gloff or “the lame,” whose descendants settled in Ireland in the XVII. century.” [2]

Early History of the Edwards family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Edwards research.

Edwards Spelling Variations

Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. People could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual’s design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one’s name. The Edwards name over the years has been spelled Edwards, Edward, Edwardes and others.

Early Notables of the Edwards family (pre 1700)

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was John Edwards (c.1605-1656), a Welsh Anglican priest and translator; Jonathan Edwards (1629-1712), Welsh theologian and Principal of Jesus College.

Edwards World Ranking

In the United States, the name Edwards is the 49^th most popular surname with an estimated 340,719 people with that name. [3] However, in Canada, the name Edwards is ranked the 110^thmost popular surname with an estimated 26,457 people with that name. [4] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Edwards is the 228^th popular surname with an estimated 191 people with that name. [5] Australia ranks Edwards as 27^th with 49,795 people. [6] New Zealand ranks Edwards as 18^th with 6,160 people. [7] The United Kingdom ranks Edwards as 17^th with 123,074 people. [8] South Africa ranks Edwards as 726^th with 9,444 people. [9]

 Migration of the Edwards family to Ireland

Some of the Edwards family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Edwards migration to the United States +

Many Welsh joined the great migrations to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Like their Scottish and Irish neighbors, many Welsh families left their homeland hoping to find hope and prosperity in a land that the English did not exercise a tight rule over. Those Welshimmigrants that successfully traveled to North America went on to make significant contributions to the rapid development of both Canada and the United States in terms of the settling of land and the establishment of industry. They also added to the rich cultural heritage of both countries. An examination into the immigration and passenger lists has discovered a number of people bearing the name Edwards: 

Edwards Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• John Edwards, who landed in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship “George” [10]
• William Edwards, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 [10]
• Arthur Edwards, who landed in Virginia in 1622 [10]
• John Edwards, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 [10]
• Richard Edwards, aged 23 who landed in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship “Jacob” [10]

Edwards Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Walter Edwards, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 [10]
• Anne Edwards, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 [10]
• Eliza Edwards, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 [10]
• Benja Edwards, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 [10]
• Hannah Edwards, who landed in Virginia in 1703 [10]

Edwards Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• David J Edwards, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 [10]
• G Edwards, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 [10]
• Edward Henry Edwards, aged 23, who landed in Ohio in 1812 [10]
• Hayden Edwards, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1813 [10]
• Haden Edwards, aged 16, who landed in Texas in 1829 [10]

Edwards Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Mr. James Edwards, (b. 1876), aged 24, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship “New York” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 25th March 1900 en route to Wakefield, Michigan, USA [11]
• Mr. William Charles Edwards, (b. 1865), aged 35, Cornish fireman travelling aboard the ship “Majestic” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 20th September 1900 en route to Cleveland, Ohio, USA [11]
• Mr. Samuel R. Edwards, (b. 1825), aged 76, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship “Cymric” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 10th September 1901 en route to New York, USA [11]
• Mr. Richard Edwards, (b. 1873), aged 30, Cornish carpenter travelling aboard the ship “New York” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 14th June 1903 en route to Butte, Montana, USA [11]
• Mr. John Edwards, (b. 1875), aged 28, English carpenter travelling aboard the ship “New York” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 14th June 1903 en route to Butte, Montana, USA [11]

 Edwards migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Edwards Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Joseph Edwards, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
• Joseph Edwards, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Thomas Edwards, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Mr. Joseph Edwards U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 179 aboard the ship “HMS Clinton”, picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York [12]
• Mrs. Mary Edwards U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 327 aboard the ship “HMS Clinton”, picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York [12]

Edwards Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• James G Edwards, who arrived in Canada in 1834
• Samuel Edwards, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig “Betsy Heron” from Belfast, Ireland
• Betty Edwards, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig “Betsy Heron” from Belfast, Ireland
• Mr. George Edwards, aged 32 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse IsleQuarantine Station in Quebec but died on Grosse Isle on 29th June 1847 [13]
• Mr. Henry Edwards, aged 24 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse IsleQuarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship “Charles Richard” departing from the port of Sligo, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 [13]

Edwards Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

• I C Edwards, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

 Edwards migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Edwards Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Miss Margaret Edwards, (b. 1782), aged 16, English convict who was convicted in Shropshire, England for 7 years , transported aboard the “Britannia III” on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1846 [14]
• Miss Martha Edwards, (b. 1774), aged 24, English house servant who was convicted in Hereford, Herefordshire, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the “Britannia III” on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1846 [14]

Edwards Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Elizabeth Edwards, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [15]
• Mr. James Edwards, British Convict who was convicted in Southampton, England for 14 years, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [15]
• Miss Mary Edwards, British Convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [15]
• Ms. Harriot Edwards, (b. 1782), aged 18, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 22nd March 1790, sentenced for life for stealing silver tea tongs, 6 gowns, and other goods, transported aboard the ship “Minorca” in June 1801 to New South Wales, Australia [16]
• Mr. Thomas Edwards, (b. 1767), aged 34, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life, transported aboard the “Atlas” on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]

 Edwards migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Edwards Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• John Edwards, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
• Robert Edwards, who landed in Ohiro, New Zealand in 1840
• James Edwards, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Aurora” in 1840
• Eliza Edwards, aged 29, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Aurora” in 1840
• James Edwards, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Bolton” in 1840

Edwards Settlers in New Zealand in the 20th Century

• William Edwards, aged 25, a bricklayer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “S. S. Waimana” in 1926

 Edwards migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [18]

Edwards Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

• Robert Edwards, aged 38, who arrived in Barbados in 1635 [10]
• Mr. Robert Edwards, (b. 1587), aged 48, British settler travelling aboard the ship “Expedition” arriving in Barbados in 1636 [19]
• Abraham Edwards, who settled in Barbados in 1654

Contemporary Notables of the name Edwards (post 1700) +

• James Burrows Edwards (b. 1927), American Republican politician and oral surgeon, Governor of South Carolina from 1975 to 1979 [20]
• Stanley Ted Edwards (1950-2023), known professionally as Jango Edwards, an American clown and entertainer who spent most of his career in Europe
• Simone Ann-Marie Edwards OD (1973-2023), Jamaican-born, American basketball player who played for the New York Liberty and the Seattle Storm, nicknamed “Jamaican Hurricane.”
• Don Edwards (1936-2022), American cowboy singer and guitarist, two of his albums are included in the Folklore Archives of the Library of Congress
• Vincent Edwards (1969-2022), known by his stage name CPO Boss Hogg, an American rapper from Compton, California
• Daryl Edwards, American actor, known for Manifest (2018), The Politician (2019) and Daredevil (2015)
• Roy Edwards (1954-2020), American politician, Member of the Wyoming House of Representatives (2015-2020)
• Albert Ely “Al” Edwards (1937-2020), American politician, Member of the Texas House of Representatives (2009-2011)
• Monroe Edwards (1808-1847), American slave trader, forger, and convicted criminal who was the subject of a well-publicized trial and conviction in 1842; he is mentioned in Herman Melville’s story “Bartleby, the Scrivener”
• Elaine Lucille Edwards (1929-2018), née Schwartzenburg, an American politician from Louisiana, First Lady of Louisiana (1984-1988)