Edwards surname meaning

Edwards means "Edward’s"—a Welsh and English patronymic formed with the genitive -s. Edward is an Old English given name often glossed as "rich guard" or "prosperity protector," popular long before surnames stuck.

Once hereditary names settled, Edwards simply marked descent from a man called Edward. It belongs with Jones, Evans, and Roberts in the parent's-name set. The spelling Edwardes is an older variant of the same idea. The short family gloss is what matters for this catalog.