Meades

Meades is a surname of English origin that also appears as a toponymic element in some places. In genealogical and historical contexts, it is treated as a variant form related to the surnames Meade and Mead, and may occur as a plural or inherited family name in its own right.

Etymology and origin: The name Meades most likely derives from an Old English or early medieval form meaning meadow or field. As a toponymic surname, it would have been adopted by families living near a meadow or associated with a meadowed landscape. Over time, the spelling became fixed in various forms, including Meades, Meade, and Mead, with regional pronunciation and clerical variation contributing to diversity in records.

Distribution and usage: Meades is found in English-language genealogical records and has been carried by descendants of English-speaking communities to other regions. In North America and other former British colonies, the surname appears in census and parish registers reflecting historical migration and settlement patterns. The name may also appear in rural or village place names where it originated as a descriptor of the landscape.

Variants and related names: Related names include Meade and Mead, with Meades representing a variant form. Other related spellings can appear in historical documents depending on local orthography. The surname is sometimes encountered in records as a pluralized or possessive form, depending on how families were recorded in different eras.

See also: Mead, Meade, Meads.