Wardlaw Name Meaning

The surname Wardlaw is of Scottish origin, derived from a town in Fife, Scotland. It is a habitational name composed of the Old English elements "weard," which means "watch" or "guard", and "hlaw" meaning "hill," suggesting that the original bearers were from a hill used as a lookout point.

Historically, there are a number of prominent people bearing this surname, for instance, the Scottish prelate and chronicler Walter Wardlaw who was a bishop in the 14th century. Henry Wardlaw, founder of the University of St. Andrews, is also a notable figure with this surname.