Wades

Wades is a term with several uses in English. As a verb, wades is the third-person singular present tense of to wade, meaning to walk through water, mud, or similarly soft ground, with the body partially or fully in contact with the surface. Wading is a common activity in shallow rivers, marshes, or floodplains and is often associated with crossings where no bridge is present.

In proper nouns, Wades appears as a component in place names and, less commonly, as a surname variant. In toponymy, the element Wade or Wades can reflect geographical features such as a ford or crossing, or an origin tied to a person or family bearing the name Wade. The exact origin of a given "Wades" locality varies by historical context.

As a plural or variant form, Wades may appear in lists or genealogical contexts where Wade is treated as a family name. In general, Wade is the more common spelling for a surname; Wades is comparatively rare and typically arises through historical spelling variation or transcription.