Surname Waddy - Meaning and Origin
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Waddy: What does the surname Waddy mean?
The surname Waddy is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from "wad," an Old English term meaning "woad," a plant that produces a blue dye. The name might have been an occupational name for a person who cultivated or sold this plant, or it could be a locational name for a person who lived in an area where woad was grown extensively. The surname Waddy also appears in early medieval Irish records, where it is thought to be of Welsh origin, related to the name "Wade". Variations of this surname include Waddy, Wadie, Wady, Waddie, and others. As with most surnames, the meaning can vary depending on regional and cultural differences. Note that surname origins can be complex and multifaceted, therefore, these interpretations of the name's meanings are speculative.
Order DNA origin analysisWaddy: Where does the name Waddy come from?
The last name Waddy is commonly found in the United States and United Kingdom today. The name originated in England, and its earliest known origin is Lincolnshire in the East Midlands of England. Based on Ancestry.com data, Waddy is most commonly found in the southern United States, especially in Tennessee and Virginia. The states with the highest concentrations of people sharing the Waddy surname are Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Within the United Kingdom, the surname is most prevalent in the East Midlands of England, most notably in Nottinghamshire.
Waddy is an occupational surname, meaning that those with the name likely descended from people who were employed in a specific profession or trade. Generally, the name comes from the Old English word "wudig" meaning woodman or woodcutter. There is a Waddy family crest that dates back to the 16th century in England and is attributed to the manor of Waddy.
Throughout the years, the Waddy surname has been adopted and passed down by families from other countries, particularly in Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, many of the earliest settlers bearing the name Waddy were convicts, transported to Tasmania and New South Wales in the early 19th century for crimes such as stealing.
In modern times, the surname Waddy is primarily known for its relations to famous musician, songwriter and producer Leroy Waddy.
Variations of the surname Waddy
The surname Waddy is derived from the medieval English name Waddi, which is derived from the Old English personal name “Wadu,” meaning “wood.” Common variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Waddie, Waddup, Wadd, Waddell, Waddel, Wadel, Wadle, Waddington, and Wadsworth.
The surname Waddy was most common in England in the Middle Ages, in what was then referred to as “woodland country”; hence, the origin of the name. As people immigrated to other parts of the world, the surname Waddy has spread to countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada.
In the United States and Canada, Waddy is primarily a given name but is used as a surname as well. The spelling “Waddie” is also very popular down under in Australia.
In England, the spelling Waddy has stayed relatively unchanged, and is still found today. Waddel is the more commonly used spelling. In Scotland and northern England, the spellings Waddup and Waddington are more popular.
The variations of the surname Waddy go beyond a simple change in spelling. In Scotland, the spelling Wadel is used as a given name and a surname. In Australia the spelling Waddle is popular as a given name, but not used as a surname.
In some cases, the variants of the surname Waddy have a different meaning or origin. Waddell is derived from the Scottish surname Waddell, which is derived from a place name, meaning "valley of Wade." Waddington is derived from the Old English given name Wadda and the Old English word for “town.” Wadsworth is an English place name and means “enclosed homestead of Wade.”
Famous people with the name Waddy
- Neyikeyona Waddy: is a Canadian pop singer.
- Jodi Balfour: is a South African actress and producer known for her role as Jackie Kennedy in miniseries The Crown and as Ginny Fugate in an American TV show Quarry.
- Elizabeth Waddy: is an American actress known for her roles in The Great Gatsby, Happy Birthday and Young Lions.
- Brinley Waddy: is an Australian singer-songwriter and actor.
- Patrick Waddy: is an American writer and producer known for his work as an assistant director and producer for the movie Peter Rabbit.
- Leigh Waddy: is an Australian musician and songwriter.
- Lannie Waddy: is an American singer-songwriter and actor known for his role on the TV show The Voice.
- Lily Waddy: is an Australian actress and singer-songwriter best known for her role as Ruby in the Netflix series Upstaged.
- River Waddy: is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter.
- Frankie Waddy: is an American actor and producer known for her work on the TV shows The Lightning Fields and Blueboy.