Newtownards, a pictorial history by Derek Beattie

Origins
This name is arguably at least English with some Scottish input. It has three possible origins. The first is locational from the village of Ewart in the parish of Doddington in Northumberland, England. This is recorded as Ewurthe in the Pipe Rolls of the county in 1218 and means "The enclosure by the river", from the pre 7th century word "ea", a river, and "worth", an enclosure. This is proven by the fact that Ewart is enclosed by the rivers Glen and Till. The first recording of the name, a shown below, is from this source. The second possible origin is from the Norman French form of the given name Edward, which was "Ewart or Ewert", and is recorded in the famous Domesday Book of 1086. The name means "prosperity-guard", from elements "ead" and "weard". Finally it may be an occupational name for a shepherd, from the Middle English word "ewehirde". Examples of recordings include the marriage of John Ewart and Mabell Athey at Berwick upon Tweed, on June 19th 1620. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert de Ewrth. This was dated 1242, in the "Fees Court Records of Northumberland", during the reign of King Henry 111rd, 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Other Surnames on this page
Allen~Beck~Bodel~Bole~Coulter~Craig~Crossley~Finlay~Finley~Heriott
McCully~McCutcheon~McGilton~McGimpsey~McIlwaine~McKnight~Montgomery~Nevin~Renwick~York

Ewart, Margaret - 14th. May 1834 - {Wife to James Montgomery} - Mother of Margaret Montgomery - Members of 1st. Presbyterian

Ewart, Eliza Jane - 11th. March 1844 - {Father William Ewart of Ballyblack} - {Mother Agnes McCully} - Baptised at 1st. Presbyterian 29th. September 1844

Ewart, John Alexander - 3rd. November 1864 - (Father John Ewart of 44 Drumawhey) - (Mother Margaret Coulter)
Ewart, Joseph - 18th. February 1868 - (Father John Ewart of 44 Drumawhey)) - (Mother Margaret Coulter)
Ewart, Agnes Jane - 10th. May 1870 - {Father John Ewart of 44 Drumawhey)} - {Mother Margaret Coulter}
Ewart, Margaret - 23rd. January 1873 - {Father John Ewart of 44 Drumawhey)} - {Mother Margaret Coulter}

Ewart, Renwick Finlay - 10th. June 1868 - {Father James Ewart of Crossnamuckley} - {Mother Mary Jane Finley}
Ewart, Robert - 3rd. February 1876 - {Father James Ewart of Crossnamuckley} - {Mother Mary Jane Finley}
Ewart, Maria - 22nd. March 1878 - {Father James Ewart of Crossnamuckley} - {Mother Mary Jane Finley}
Ewart, Mary Jane - 1st. November 1880 - {Father James Ewart of Crossnamuckley} - {Mother Mary Jane Finlay}
Ewart, Alexander - 31st. July 1883 - {Father James Ewart of Crossnamuckley} - {Mother Mary Jane Finley}
Members of Ballyblack Presbyterian

Ewart, Francis - 1892 @ Carrowdore
Ewart, Margaret Jane "Maggie" - 1893 @ Carrowdore
Ewart, William - 1895 @ Carrowdore
Ewart, Matilda Moore - 1896 @ Carrowdore
Ewart, David - 1899 @ Carrowdore
Ewart, Elizabeth Florence - 1902 @ Carrowdore

Ewart, John of Ballyblack - 4th. February .... aged 76
Ewart, Elizabeth nee Crossley - 8th. April 1829 aged 84 - {b.c1745} - Wife of above

Ewart, Jane - 3rd. January 1875 - A widow of Ballyblack
12th. February 1875 - The Will (with one Codicil) of Jane Ewart late of Ballyblack County Down Widow deceased who died 3 January 1875 at same place was proved at Belfast by the oath of Robert Heriott of Ballymiscaw (Newtownards) same County Farmer the sole Executor. - Effects Ł100 - Image
Had a sister Sarah McKnight - Written 25th. November 1873 - Witnessed by Adam and James S.Beck

Ewart, John - 17th. December 1915 - A farmer of Drumawhey
15th. March 1916 - Administration (with the Will) of the Estate of John Ewart late of Drumawhey Newtownards County Down Farmer who died 17 December 1915 granted at Belfast to John Alexander Ewart Farmer. - Effects Ł134-3s-8d

Ewart, John Alexander - 2nd. February 1937 - A farmer of Drumawhey
12th. March 1937 - Ewart, John Alexander of Drumawhey Newtownards county Down farmer died 2 February 1937 Probate Belfast 12 March to Robert James McGimpsey blacksmith. Effects Ł29-15s.

Bodel, Mrs. Eliza a widow nee Ewart - 22nd. February 1850 - (Father Hill Ewart) - Married John Craig

Ewart, Eleanor - 18th. November 1862 aged 28 - {Father Henry Ewart} - Married Alexander McGilton aged 30 - {Father John McGilton}
Family based in Donaghadee

Ewart, John a farmer of Drumawhey - 9th. May 1863 - {Father William Ewart a farmer} - Married Margaret Coulter @ 1st. Presbyterian
Witnesses were John Bole and Agnes McIlwaine

Ewart, James a farmer of Drumawhey - 23rd. November 1867 - {Father William Ewart} - Married Mary Jane Finlay - {Father Robert Finlay}
Witnesses were William and Agness Ritchie - 1st. Presbyterian

Ewart, Alexander - 6th. February 1823 - Registered a Freehold at Ballyblack - Landlord Rt.Hon.Robert Stewart - Other Tenures Hugh Kennedy, Alexander Turnley and John Ewart

Ewart, Samuel - 6th. February 1823 - Of Drumawhy Registered a Freehold there - Landlord Alexander Stewart Esq. - Other Tenures Samuel, Susanna and Mary Ewart

Ewart, John - 1863 - Of Drumawhey - Leased a house and 10 acres from the Marquis of Londonderry

Ewart, Widow - 1863 - Of Drumawhey - Leased and office and 6 acres from the Marquis of Londonderry

Ewart, William - 1863 - Of Drumawhey - Leased a house and 4 acres from the Marquis of Londonderry

Surname	Forename	Age	Sex	Relation to head	Religion	Birthplace	Occupation	Marital Status
Ewart	Margaret	60	Female	Wife	Presbyterian Church	Co Down	Wife	Married
Ewart	John Alexander	32	Male	Son	Presbyterian Church	Co Down	Farmers Son	Not Married
Ewart	Agnes Jane	26	Female	Daughter	Presbyterian Church	Co Down	Farmers Daughter	Not Married

Surname	Forename	Age	Born	Sex	Relation to head	Religion	Birthplace	Occupation	Marital Status	Years Married	Children Born	Children Living
Ewart	John	72	c1839	Male	Head of	Presbyterian	Co Down	Farmer	Married	-	-	-
Ewart	Margaret	84	c1827	Female	Wife	Presbyterian	Co Down	-	Married	49	4	1
Ewart	John Alexander	31	c1880	Male	Son	Presbyterian	Co Down	Farmer	Single	-	-	-

During the 1920s the property then at 42a Drumawhey owned by Alexander Ewart was compulsary purchased by Newtownards Rural Didtrict Council

Census	LDS	T/Land	Trans	Emig.