Origin, Meaning, And History Of Wade
Wade is a surname with English Anglo-Saxon roots, believed to have origintaed from the Old English habitational name ‘(ge)waed’ meaning ‘ford’ or the Medieval English personal name ‘Wade.’ The name came into existence from the pre-seventh century Old English element ‘wadan’ meaning ‘to depart.’ It was a surname given to those who lived close to a river or stream.
In Germanic mythology, Wade is an iconic figure known by various names in different regions, such as Vadi in Norse and Wate in Middle High German. The Old English poem Widsith mentions Wade, and according to the irekssaga, he was born from the union of the sea goddess Wachilt and the mermaid Wilkinus.
Chaucer alluded to the “Story of Wade” in his work Troilus and Criseyde, and in The Merchant’s Tale, he used the phrase “Wade’s boat” to refer to some form of deceit, which indicates the existence of a medieval English tale about Wade. Thomas Speght, an editor of Chaucer’s writings, evidently knew the story and the boat, as he noted that Wade’s boat had the name Guingelot by the end of the 16th century. Wade was known as the Keeper of the Ford and served as a ferryman and guardian for the Angles.
Wade is a well-known surname in Ireland, and numerous medieval manuscripts from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales indicate its widespread use across the British Isles. The name has English, Gaelic, and Norman French roots in Ireland, and it was brought to the islands by Norman French colonists in the 13th century and English colonists, particularly in the 17th century. In some instances, the name was Gaelicized, resulting in variations such as MacWade, MacUaid, MacQuaid, and Quaid. Some other variants of the name include Wada, Wade, Waide, Wadey and Wado.
In pop culture and fiction, the name Wade has gained more recognition through various characters such as Wade Bailey from the sitcomHello Ladies, Wade Eiling (also known as The General) fromDC Comics, and Wade Wilson (a.k.a.Deadpool), a fan favorite and mercenary in the Marvel Comics universe.
How To Pronounce Wade?
Famous People With The Name Wade
- Wade Manson Baldwin IVAmerican professional basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the EuroLeague and the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
- Wade Anthony BoggsAmerican former professional baseball third baseman won the 1996 World Series with the Yankees against the Atlanta Braves and became the 23rd player to reach 3,000 career hits.
- Tony Wade HayesAmerican country music artist, debuted in 1994 with his gold-certified album Old Enough to Know Better, and the title track reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts
- Wade Eckhart MainerAmerican country singer and banjoist, also known as the Grandfather of Bluegrass and is known for bridging the gap between old-time mountain music and Bluegrass.
- Wade WardAmerican old-time music banjo player and fiddler, known for playing the clawhammer banjo and won the Galax, Virginia Old Time Fiddler’s Convention.
Names With Similar Sound As Wade
Wade sounds short yet strong. If you like how the name sounds, here is a list of more similar-sounding names for you.
Popular Sibling Names For Wade
Other Popular Names Beginning With W
名字有相似意思同韦德
If you want more names rooted in Germanic myth, here is a list of names with similar meanings.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Wade
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Wade?
The name Wade means ‘ford.’
2. What is the origin of the name Wade?
Wade has an English Anglo-Saxon origin.
3. What language does the name Wade come from?
Wade is an English toponym. It is derived from the Old English place name Waed meaning ‘a ford.’
4. Are there any cultural or historical associations with the name Wade?
The English name Wade owes its popularity to the Germanic mythological character Vadi in Norse or Wate in Middle High German. First mentioned in the Old English poem Widsith as the offspring of King Wilkinus and the serpent-legged sea goddess Wachilt. In literary history, the Tale of Wade was referred to in the famous work of Geoffrey Chaucer titled Troilus and Criseyde. In English folklore, the Hole of Horcum in North Yorkshire was believed to be formed by Wade scooping up earth to throw at his wife.
