From Old English 'æðel' (noble) and 'weard' (guardian), meaning 'noble guardian'.
Alward is an old English name built from aethel, meaning noble, and weard, meaning guardian, so its core sense is that of a noble protector. It belongs to the sturdy old Germanic naming world where rank, duty, and character were often folded directly into the name itself.
That gives Alward a feeling that is both martial and courtly. It sounds rare now, but not artificial, and it carries the sober authority of names that seem to have come forward from medieval record rather than from fashion. Alward feels dependable, severe, and quietly distinguished.