Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • English : from northern Middle English gad ‘goad’, ‘spike’, ‘sting’ (Old Norse gaddr), hence a metonymic occupational name for a cattle driver or, more likely, a nickname for a persistent and irritating person. The Old Norse word is attested as a byname (see Gadsby).

Join the Family

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe