In ancient times, the name WARD indicated the guard or watchman of a castle or fortified city.  The coat of arms is described as "azure" (blue) with a "cross potence, or" (gold cross).  The name was widespread throughout the British Isles and Ireland.   Variations of the name include: Warder(s), Warden(s), Warde(s), Werdan(s) & Wardian.

Many Wards were among the earliest settlers of America such as NATHANIEL WARD (1578-1653) who arrived in Massachusetts in 1634 and served as minister to a settlement which later became Ipswich; WILLIAM WARD (1603-1687) a founder of both Sudbury and Marlborough, MA; SAMUEL WARD (1725-1776) Governor of Rhode Island; ANDREW WARD, Governor of Connecticut; ARTEMAS WARD (1727-1800), a descendant of WILLIAM WARD mentioned above, Governor of Massachusetts and celebrated general of the American Revolutionary War.

Other famous people named WARD include SETH WARD (1617-1689) English Bishop and astronomer; LESTER WARD (1831-1913), US sociologist and paleontologist; BARBARA WARD (1914-1981), noted British economist; AARON MONTGOMERY WARD (1843-1913) who in 1872 with capital of only $2400 founded a mail-order business called Montgomery Ward & Co.