Meade

Meade is a surname and place name of English origin. It is a variant of Mead and derives from the Old English mead, meaning meadow. The name may have originated as a descriptive label for someone who lived by a meadow or from a toponym referring to a meadowed place.

The economist James Meade (1907–1995) is the most prominent bearer of the name. A British economist, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1977 for his work on international trade and economic development, contributing to the understanding of how economies interact on a global scale.

Geographically, Meade is the name of several places in the United States. Notably, Meade, Kansas, is a city in Meade County, and the region includes Meade County, Kansas, itself. The name also appears in other localities and in county names across the country, reflecting its toponymic use.

In science and manufacturing, Meade Instruments Corporation is a U.S.-based producer of telescopes and astronomical equipment. The company is known for supplying amateur and educational astronomy gear, including telescopes, mounts, and related accessories.

See also: Mead, a related surname and place name variant, and other disambiguations of Meade.