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![Show Contents]() Wead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Wead surname is derived from the Middle English word "wode," meaning "wood," which suggests that the original bearer of the name lived near a wood, or was perhaps employed as a woodcutter or forester. Early Origins of the Wead familyThe surname Wead was first found in Leicestershire, England. However, during ascension of William to the English throne, the family were stripped of their land holdings in Leicestershire by the king, and moved north to Dumfriesshire, Scotland. The first of the family in this region are said to descend from a Norman knight by the name of Ernald de Bosco (Bosco is a Latinized form of wood,) who accompanied William the Conqueror. A number of Boscos are thought to have have moved northwards with other Anglo-Norman families in the train of Margaret, King Malcolm Ceanmore's second wife, to escape the ponderous rule of William. Early History of the Wead familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wead research. Another 194 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1124, 1153, 1168, 1214, 1295, 1376, 1398, 1488, 1515, 1678, 1680, 1688, 1695, 1761 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Wead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wead Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Vould, Voud, Vode, Would, Wood, Woods, Wode, Woid, Wodes and many more. Early Notables of the Wead familyNotable among the family at this time was Sir Andrew Wood (d. 1515) of Largo, Fife, a Scottish Sea Captain, who rose to become Lord High Admiral of Scotland, he held the lands at Kirkton of Largo in Fife, and is said to be the scion of the Chiefly line of the Woods. Family lore...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wead Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Wead family to Ireland
Some of the Wead family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Wead familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Richard Wood, who settled in Virginia in 1635; Patrick Wood, who arrived in Virginia in 1635; William Wood, who settled in New England in 1635; Walter Wood, who arrived in Virginia in 1639.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Wead (post 1700) | + |
- Leslie C. Wead, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Massachusetts, 1904 1
- Hezekiah M. Wead, American politician, Delegate to Illinois State Constitutional Convention from Fulton County, 1847 1
- Doug Wead, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Arizona 6th District, 1992 1
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Scotland
Ireland
England
