Seward is an uncommon given name of English origin, derived from Old English elements 'seo', meaning 'sea", and 'weard', which means "guard". It was originally used as a surname, but has been adopted as a first name in some cases. The name Seward gained prominence through historical figures such as William H. Seward, the American statesman who served as Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln.
The name Seward experienced varying popularity over the years, with a notable spike during World War I, reaching its peak with 26 births in 1915. However, it has been relatively uncommon since then, with less than 10 births per year on average from 1923 onwards.