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Home › Baby Names Directory › Steward

Steward

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Steward

Pronounced STOO-erd /ˈstu.ərd/Medium

Meaning: Steward is the occupational surname and word used as a first name, from Old English 'stigweard', 'keeper of the hall or household'. It is a close cousin of the surname Stewart/Stuart, borne into a first name in the American South.Low

In 30 seconds: Steward is the occupational name meaning 'keeper of the hall' — said 'STOO-erd'.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningSteward is the occupational surname and word used as a first name, from Old English 'stigweard', 'keeper of the hall or household'. It is a close cousin of the surname Stewart/Stuart, borne into a first name in the American South.
U.S. rank (2002)#9258 ↗ Rising
2002 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1920
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,229

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192018822002

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Steward comes from Old English stigweard — stig ('hall, household') plus weard ('keeper') — the officer who ran a great house, the same root that gave the royal surname Stewart/Stuart. Used as a given name, it belongs to the American fashion for surnames and honorable occupations on sons.

It surfaced in the 1880s, peaked around 1920, and lingered thinly across the century. A man named Steward would most likely be of a grandparent-or-older generation, and the spelling stays far rarer than Stewart or Stuart.

Did you know? Steward, an occupational surname used as a first name, was given to only a few dozen boys a year at its peak around 1920.
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Steward — occupational; Old English stigweard 'keeper of the hall'

Variations

StewartStuartSteward

Nicknames

Stew

Famous Bearers

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If you like Steward…

Stewart— the common surname form of the same word
Stuart— a royal variant of the same name
Sterling— another dignified occupational-style name
Chester— a like vintage surname used for boys

Explore names like Steward

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Steward mean?

Steward is the occupational surname meaning 'keeper of the hall', used as a first name.

How do you pronounce Steward?

It's said STOO-erd /ˈstu.ərd/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Steward a boy or girl name?

Steward is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Steward?

Steward was always rare in the U.S., an occupational surname occasionally used as a first name.

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