Everard

Everard is a name used as both a given name and a surname. It originates from the Germanic elements eber or ebar meaning boar and hard meaning brave or hardy, and is the English form of names such as Eberhard or Everhard that circulated in medieval Europe. The form was introduced to England in the Middle Ages and became established in both given-name and surname usage.

Variants of the name include Eberhard, Eberhart, Everhart, and Everharth, with occasional feminine forms in later periods. The traditional meaning is commonly interpreted as “brave boar” or “strong as a boar,” reflecting the common practice of Germanic names to convey martial or noble qualities. As a surname, Everard likely arose from the given name, passing down through generations as a patronymic or via toponymic origins in some cases.

Usage of Everard has historically been most common in England and parts of continental Europe, with the name surviving today in small numbers in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. In modern times it tends to appear more frequently as a surname than as a first name, though it remains a recognizable traditional given name in historical contexts.

Notable individuals include Everard Digby (c. 1550s–1606), an English conspirator in the Gunpowder Plot. The name also appears in various genealogical records and literary works, reflecting its long-standing presence in English-speaking cultures.

See also: Eberhard, Eberhardt, Everhart.