A few days ago, while doing some research, I came across a really intriguing name: Ezzard. It belonged to professional boxer Ezzard Charles, who became Heavyweight Champion in 1949 and retained the title until 1951.
The name Ezzard was among the 1,000 most popular U.S. baby names right around the time — and only around the time — Ezzard Charles was champ:
- 1953: 37 baby boys named Ezzard
- 1952: 54 baby boys named Ezzard [ranked 975th]
- 1951: 85 baby boys named Ezzard [ranked 760th]
- 1950: 63 baby boys named Ezzard [ranked 866th]
- 1949: 21 baby boys named Ezzard [debut]
- 1948: unlisted
- 1947: unlisted
Here’s a visual:
Where did his name come from? My best guess here is that Ezzard Charles, who was born in Georgia, was named in honor of William Ezzard (1799-1887), who served 4 terms as the mayor of Atlanta in the 1800s.
As several commenters have noted, Charles was actually named after Dr. W. P. Ezzard — the Lawrenceville, Georgia, doctor who delivered him in 1921. In fact, here’s a 1949 photo of the boxer and the doctor together:
The surname Ezzard is a variant of the English surname Izzard, which can be traced back (via the Middle English/Old French female personal names Iseld, Iseut, Isaut, Isolde, and Isoud) to the Old Cornish personal name Eselt, meaning “looked up to, admired.” The usage of Eselt in post-Conquest England can be attributed to the legend of Tristan and Isolde, “Cornish versions of which gained huge popularity in medieval Europe through romantic retellings by German, French, and Anglo-Norman writers.”
Have you ever met a person with the first name Ezzard?
P.S. Ezzard Charles was raised in Cincinnati, which now hosts an annual “Ezz Fest” in his honor.
Sources:
- Ezzard Charles – Wikipedia
- Hammock, Will. “Lawrenceville native Ezzard Charles, former world heavyweight boxing champ, honored with statue, park.” Gwinnett Daily Post 27 Sept. 2022.
- Hanks, Patrick, Richard Coates and Peter McClure. The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.
Image: © 1949 Atlanta Constitution
[Latest update: 9/2022]
Mt family’s last name is Ezzard.
My Great uncle was Webster Ezzard of Lawrenceville, GA. He was the town doctor and was present at the birth of Ezzard Charles the prize fighter. The mother decided to give him the doctor’s name. Many followed. They were probably named after the fighter. The doctor was a descendant of William Ezzard, an early mayor of Atlanta.
Thank you for that information, Margaret!
My boyfriends name is Ezzard
I have a friend whose first name is Ezzard.
My grandson is Ezzard born the 08th May 2009
Margaret is right on.Hello Margaret. My grandfather, Henry Hansel Ezzard, was a brother to Webster Ezzard. My grandfather and my father, George Gray Ezzard, told me about Ezzard Charles. They said the family could not pay Dr. Ezzard for his services so to show appreciation, they named their son after him.
I have a friend named Ezzard. We call him Ez!
My mother’s last name is Ezzard. We are of mixed heritage : Native American, Black, and White. We are also supposed to be closely related to the late great Lena Horne.
My name is Ezzard.
I have a good friend named Ezzard. He was born in Puerto Rico in 1976 and now lives in Minnesota.
Ezzard Charles was named after my great uncle Web Ezzard. The family could not afford to pay the doctor so traded a bucket od blackberries for the service. May I borrow some money from the family of Ezzard Charles now?
My name is John Ezzard. I thought it was a unique name but there are at least 3 of us running around the US (well, one is in Japan right now) – all are kin
My husband is Ezzard Charles and his son is Ezzard too. Beautiful name. So unique and strong.
hi there my name david i live in england south sussex
I use my English name. As ezzard roslan. Malay name izad roslan.
We are glad to hear people talkin about my granddad Ezzard Charles my name is Ezzard Mack CharlesIII gravy was a good man my dad Ezzard Charles jr is a good man. I want the world to know the man after boxing my grandfather started boxing before he was out of grammer school.One day a man in a big nice car road up on him and his brother scacey they were know more than eight or nine and told them he was a boxer and he owns 365 suits one for every day.If you want to know the real story i are want to produce a story movie contact me at Ezzard.Charles@yahoo.com
Ezzard Charles III here, the money was long gone in the 70s guys we had to build everything ground up. Im writing a screen play on the life of Ezzard Charles and I really cound use some capital if it sounds like something you would like to do email me before september 2011 thank you.
I am cousin to you Ezzards — from Nancy Ezzard m. to a Rogers, and on back.
I cannot find pics of any Ezzards — do any of you have any ? Thank you.
My husbands first name is Ezzard
More on Dr. Webster Ezzard (1879-1963):
From a newspaper article quoted in this RootsWeb post.
Edzard is a traditional frisian name (prominent bearer is Edzard Reuter, former CEO of Daimler-Benz), going to the spelling Ezzard is only a small step, IMHO.
I’ve been talking via email to a member of the Ezzard family. He believes the surname may have originated in France.
Ezzard was my grandmother’s maiden name. I’ve been researching that side of my family tree and wondering if there is any connection to an early mayor or judge in ATL. So far, not sure. I’ve always been fond of this surname in my family’s history.
My middle name is Ezzard Charles and my grandfather is named Ezzard Charles, i was named after him, and he was named after the boxer of course. I really enjoy this name, its really unique.
Hi! My uncle’s name is Ezzard =), Ezzard Scholer, and his parents gave him that name because of the American boxer ;)
Greetings from CHILE
My birth name was Ezzard, but I was baptized Joseph. At home was called Ezzard and in school went by Joseph. As a child was relentlessly teased being called buzzard, lizzard, gizzard, etc. When we moved to Calif, I told everyone my name was Joe. My God mother still calls me Ezzard. Was born in 1951 and in 1985 learned was named after Ezzard Charles. In retrospect should have kept the name Ezzard. Everyone knows a Joe, but few know an Ezzard.
My great grandfather was Eugene Ezzard. His father was Henry Ezzard. Henry’s father was a mulatto slave living on his father’s, John T. Ezzard, plantation in Vickery Creek, Ga. in Forsyth County. John T. Ezzard’s brother wasa judge and the mayor of Atlanta before the Civil War. It is also documented and highly publicized that Judge William Ezzard is also the grandfather of America’s first black songstress and superstar Lena Horne. Judge Ezzard purchased a black slave by the name of Nellie Calhoun from U.S. Vice President Calhoun and produced Lena’s mother.
Yes i was named after my dads favourite boxer,who incidently passed about the same time i was born.I have both names before my family sirname.
I have both names Ezzard Charles.I was apparently named after my dad’s favourite boxer. I’m Papua New Guinean and have always wondered about the origins of my name.
My grandfather is Dr Webster Pierce Ezzard. He was affectionately known as Doc. He indeed did deliver Ezzard Charles and named him. Doc practiced in the back of the drugstore that was later known as Monforts drug now McCrays restaurant.
My second great grandmother was Lizzy Ezzard from the John Ezzard family line.