Wade Coat of Arms Flags

Anglo-Saxon Roots: The Wade surname is thought to derive from the Middle English given name “Wade,” which itself originated from the pre-7th century Old English verb “wadan” (meaning “to go”).

Habitational Name: Alternatively, it could be a habitational name from the Old English word “(ge)waed” signifying “ford.” This could denote someone who lived near a ford (a shallow river crossing) or a place named Wade (such as the one in Suffolk, East Anglia, England).

Legend of Wade:
The popularity of the given name Wade owes much to the legend of Wade, a sea-giant feared and revered by coastal tribes along the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

The first recorded use of Wade as a surname comes from the “little” Domesday Book for Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex in 1086.