What is the origin of the Surname "Wade" ? I think its either Irish or Scots .?

Answer 1

Have a look at the link posted below, it says its English.
http://www.houseofnames.com/fc.asp?sId=&s=Wade

Answer 2

Wade Surname

Answer 3

See the links below from the U.S. National Genealogical Society and the U. K. College of Arms

http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/comconsumerpsst.cfm

http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Faq.htm

Ancestry.Com shows the following place of origin were listed on Wade immigrants

England 492

Ireland 373

Great Britain 79

Germany 22

Scotland 22

Bremen (part of Germany today) 6

they show the meaning as from the Middle English personal name Wade. Old English Wada, from Wadan (to go) Wada was a name of a legendary sea giant

English topographic name for someone who lived near a ford, or a habitation name for someone who lived close to a place named Wade.

Dutch and North German, occupational name or nickname from the Middle Dutch, MIddle low German Wade meaning garment or large net.

The origin of a name really isn't important to genealogist. The same surname can come from many nationalities and have many meanings.

The best thing is to trace your family, starting with your family and working back.
Anytime you wish to do this, there are lots of people on this board that can give you some great ideas. Just ask.

Answer 4

Meaning Of The Name Wade

Answer 5

No one can motivate you to actually research your own Wade lineage... but without doing just that, you are simply guessing, or flipping a coin as to which of the answers above are "right".
SOME families can be traced back to a central origin. For MOST names or families, that is a generalization that does not hold up.
YOUR ancestor with the last name of Wade might have come from either of those places. If your Wade line goes back into early Virginia (mine does) then expect it to be English. Sir William Wade was a member of the London company, and very likely related to (not father of) many of the earliest Wade immigrants who came to Virginia in the 1600's. From personal experience, the name was about as common as Smith, even then.
Thus, I can factually tell you that prior to 1700, the majority of Wade lines came from England. There is a VERY distinct fine line in my statement.. it does not translate into all Wades originally came from England.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the origin of the Surname "Wade" ? I think its either Irish or Scots .?

Answer 7

If you check out this site it will give you the distribution of the surname around Britain in 1881 and 1998 and its frequency. I have had a look and in 1881 the name was most common around North Yorkshire and suffolk. Scotland and Wales had very few wades - it looks primarily English

www.spatial-literacy.org
/UCLnames
/Surnames.aspx

Answer 8

The meaning of the surname WADE is - dweller at the shallow river crossing or ford; descendant of Wada (to advance).

Answer 9

This is a cool link I found on surnames throughout the counties in Ireland.

Answer 10

Wade is much more likely to be of Anglo Saxon origin because it describes what someone does 'wade'. Same thing with names such as Dike, Archer, Fletcher etc.