Surname Wardlaw - Meaning and Origin

Wardlaw: What does the surname Wardlaw mean?

The surname Wardlaw is of Scottish origin and is a habitational name derived from Wardlaw, a locality near Hawick, on the Roxburghshire and Dumfriesshire border. The first known person of the name was Roger de Wardlaw, who appears as a charter witness in the early 13th century. The name is believed to mean "watch-hill", deriving from the Old English words 'weard' meaning guard or watch, and 'hlaw' meaning hill. Alternatively, it has also been suggested that Wardlaw might derive from the Gaelic words ‘ard’ meaning height and ‘law’ meaning hill, thus meaning "hill of height". As a surname, Wardlaw could have been used to denote someone who lived near or on such a hill. Linages of this name can be traced back to the Scottish-English border region, specifically in the areas of Roxburghshire and Dumfriesshire. Today, individuals with the surname Wardlaw can be found all over the world, particularly in Scotland and the countries of the former British Empire.

Wardlaw: Where does the name Wardlaw come from?

The surname Wardlaw is of Scottish origin, derived from the Old English words "weard" (watch or guard) and "hlaw" (hill), likely indicating a place where a lookout was positioned, such as a watch hill. The name first appeared in Fife, Scotland, which is believed to be its place of origin.

It is rooted in the area of Wardlaw, near Culloden, in the former county of Inverness-shire in Scotland. One of the first records of the name was Hugo or Hugh de Wardlaw, in the early 13th century. The family was also part of Scottish nobility, with Henry Wardlaw, who was a bishop of St. Andrews and a founder of St. Andrews University in the 14th century.

Although its origin is in Scotland, due to the emigration patterns over the centuries, the name has spread out. Today, the name is quite common in the United States and other countries like Canada and Australia. However, it has a more significant presence in Scotland and Northern England where historically, there has been much migration to and fro with Scotland.

Variations of the surname Wardlaw

The surname Wardlaw is Scotch-Irish in origin. It was first found in Fife, Scotland, where the family held a family seat since ancient times. The name itself could have been derived from the term ‘weard’, which means guardian or watchman in Old English, and 'hlaw' meaning hill.

There are several spellings and variants of the surname, indicating the movement and spread of the family over time. Some of these variations include Wardlow, Wardloe, Wardlowe and Warlow. Given how peasant surnames were originally taken from existing sticking points like a village or a place, it's worth noting that there is a place called Wardlow in Derbyshire, England which might have also contributed to the surname's existence.

In terms of surnames of the same or similar origin, the name shares similarities with Ward, a common English and Irish surname that also means guardian. Warden is another surname evolved from the term 'weard'. Additional surnames sharing the 'hlaw (low)' element include Ludlow, Marlow, and Yarlow. The frequent changes in spelling of surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. As such, scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded, leading to variant spellings of the same surname.

Famous people with the name Wardlaw

• Gordon McBeath Wardlaw: Esteemed Canadian nutritionist and textbook author.
• Lucius Carey Wardlaw: Noted American federal judge and Navy veteran.
• Harold Douglas Wardlaw: Australian politician and Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
• Jimmy Wardlaw: Scottish football player who played as a forward for various clubs.
• Ernest Irvine Wardlaw: Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League.
• Kirstie Wardlaw: British Paralympic athlete who competed in athletics at the 1992 Summer Paralympics.
• Craig Wardlaw: Australian field hockey player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Alexander Nisbet Wardlaw: Scottish footballer who played as a striker.
• Mike Wardlaw: Canadian curling champion.
• Henry Wardlaw: Scottish church leader who was instrumental in founding St. Andrews University.
• Anne Wardlaw: Scottish poet, also known as "Mother Midnight."
• Sir Henry Johnston Gurney Wardlaw-Moncreiffe, 7th Baronet: Scottish aristocrat and British Army officer.
• Bob Wardlaw: Australian rules footballer who played for the Footscray Football Club in the Victorian Football League.
• Keith Wardlaw: English cricketer who played for Durham CCC.

Other surnames

WardleWardlow