Bywater (surname)
# Bywater (surname)

Bywater /ˈbaɪwɔːtər/ is an uncommon English surname of Old English origin and can most frequently be found in the English region of Yorkshire. It is a topographical surname given to those who were situated near a body of water.

## Etymology

Bywater is an uncommon surname of Old English origin. It is a topographical surname given to those who were situated near a body of water. The name derives from the merger of the Old English words bi (Middle English: by) and waeter (Middle English: water) to form biwaeter.

Topographical surnames are among the earliest created, because natural and artificial features in the landscape provided easily identifiable and distinguishing names among small communities in medieval England.

## History

The surname was first recorded by Thomas Bithewater, a witness to a wedding which dates to 1219, in the Yorkshire Assize Rolls.

It was first recorded in Middle English at the marriage of John Bywater and Eleonar Copgood at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 19 September 1637.

## People

* Hector Charles Bywater, English naval expert, author and WWI spy
* Hetti Bywater, British actress
* Ingram Bywater, English classical scholar
* Jim Bywater, British actor
* Michael Bywater, English writer
* Richard Arthur Samuel Bywater, recipient of the George Cross
* Ron Bywater, Australian rules footballer
* Stephen Bywater, English footballer
* Terry Bywater, British Paralympic athlete in wheelchair basketball
