steward (n.)

Middle English steuard, steward, "official in charge of the domestic affairs of a (large) household," from Old English stiward, stigweard "one who has charge of the affairs of the household or estate of another," from stig "hall, pen for cattle, part of a house" (see sty (n.1)) + weard "guard" (from Proto-Germanic *wardaz "guard," from PIE root *wer- (3) "perceive, watch out for"). But OED writes that there is "no grounds for" presuming an origin as "keeper of a (pig) sty."

It was used after the Conquest as the equivalent of Old French seneschal (q.v.) and applied to royal or imperial households and became the title of a class of high officers of the state in early England and Scotland.

The meaning "overseer of workmen" is attested from c. 1300; the general sense of "one who manages affairs of an estate on behalf of his employer" is by late 14c. The sense of "officer on a ship in charge of provisions and meals" is by mid-15c.; extended to trains by 1906. The meaning "person who supervises arrangements" at a meeting, dinner, etc., is from 1703.

The Scottish form (with terminal -t attested from late 14c.) is reflected in Stewart, name of the royal house descended from Walter (the) Steward, who married (1315) Marjorie de Bruce, daughter of King Robert. Stuart is a French spelling, attested from 1429 and adopted by Mary, Queen of Scots.

"manage, administer," 1620s, from steward (n.).