Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.
COWARD
There are approximately 5,850 people named Coward in the UK. That makes it the 1,785th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 93 are named Coward.
Region of origin
British Isles
Country of origin
England
Language of origin
English
Religion of origin
Christian
Classification
English
Occupational Name
Related and similar surnames
CowartCowardin
Coard
Cord
Coweard
Cowarde
Cowaerd
Cowards
Couard
Couaerd
Couarde
Couards
Couward
Cowardm
Cowar
Coeurd
Couerd
Cowarte
Cowaret
Cowartt
Cowear
Cowars
Coowrd
Coware
The Coward surname in historical dictionaries
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
COWARD. Although the popular derivation of this opprobrious word from "cow-herd " (wliose occupation would beregarded with some disdain by the chivalrous in the middle ages) is untenable, I think it quite probable that the surname may be from that source, like Shepherd, Ha}ward, and other similar names.