Siward

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A masculine personal name of Old English origin, borne notably by Siward, an eleventh-century Earl of Northumbria
2. An Anglo-Saxon male given name, famously held by Siward, the powerful Earl of Northumbria in the eleventh century
3. A historical personal name of Old English origin, associated with Siward, an Anglo-Danish earl who ruled Northumbria in the 1000s

Etymology: In Old English, "Sigeweard" was a personal name built from two elements: "sige," meaning "victory," and "weard," meaning "guardian" or "protector." Many Anglo-Saxon names were formed this way, pairing two meaningful words, so the name roughly meant "victory-guardian." The later form "Siward" is the same name after centuries of sound change. The name is best known through Siward, Earl of Northumbria, a powerful English nobleman. Shakespeare drew on the chronicles of Holinshed for his play "Macbeth," where Siward appears as the Earl of Northumberland who leads an English army against Macbeth and whose son dies in battle.