Contents [hide]

Way History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Way History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Way

What does the name Way mean?

The history of the Way family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living in Dorset where Roger de Waie was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1194. Later William Waye was recorded in 1236 and Richard de la Weye was found in Devon in 1249.

In Cambridgeshire, John ate Wey was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. The name literally means "dweller by the road (OE weg) or at a place called Atteweye, the name in 1306 of Way in Thorverton (Devon), or at Atway (Devon)." 1

The same source notes the family could have originated at Waye (Devon, Dorset.) 1

Early Origins of the Way family

The surname Way was first found in Dorset. The aforementioned Hundredorum Rolls also included Thomas de la Weye, Kent. 2

"The name is found in North Devon, temp. Henry VII.; and in that district the termination way is of frequent occurrence in the names of farms, homesteads, and the like, without any reference to, or connection with, roads. The mullets hauriant [(fish swimming)] in the arms of one family have been supposed to be allusive to the river Wey, co. Dorset, in which mullets are abundant. Ate-Wey is one of the forms in Hundredorum Rolls. It may be an old baptismal designation, as Wege or Weghe is found in Domesday Book as the name of a tenant anterior to the Survey." 3

Early History of the Way family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Way research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1407, 1430, 1442 and 1476 are included under the topic Early Way History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Way Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Way include Way, Waye, Wey, Whey, Weigh, Weghe and others.

Early Notables of the Way family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

William Wey or Way (1407?-1476), an English traveller and author, born in Devonshire apparently in 1407, was educated at Oxford. In 1430, he became fellow of Exeter College. He held his fellowship at...
William Waye, was a Yeoman of the Guard for King Henry VIII

Way Ranking

In the United States, the name Way is the 2,605^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 4 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Way is ranked the 189^th most popular surname with an estimated 217 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Way family to Ireland

Some of the Way family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Way migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Way or a variant listed above:

Way Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Elizabeth Way, (nee Batchelar), aged 43, who arrived in Nantasket, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Mary & John"
George Way, aged 15, who arrived in Nantasket, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Mary & John"
Mr. Henry Way, aged 47, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in1630 aboard the ship "Mary & John" 6
Mr. Henry Way, Jr., aged 19, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in1630 aboard the ship "Mary & John" 6
Mr. Aaron Way, aged 16, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in1630 aboard the ship "Mary & John" 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Way Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Way, who landed in Virginia in 1714 7
Morris Way, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 7
Ernest A Way, who landed in Frederick County, Maryland in 1798 7

Way Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Samuel Way, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1806 7
Francis Way, aged 23, who arrived in New York in 1812 7
Eilen Way, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
Ellen Way, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
H Way, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 7

Way migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Way Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Phillip Way, who settled in Bona Vista, Newfoundland in 1750
Richard Way was a merchant of St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1779 8
Mr. Titus Way U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 9
William Way, who settled in Bona Vista Newfoundland in 1792 8
Henry Way, of Trinity, Newfoundland in 1796 8

Way Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Way, from Devon found as merchant of St. John's, Newfoundland in 1814 8
John Way, a planter found in Cockold's Cover (Dunfield), Newfoundland in 1828 8
Sarah Way who was baptised at Vere (Fair) Island, Newfoundland in 1830 8
John B Way, who arrived in Canada in 1831
William Way, a planter found in Bear's Cove (Harbour Grace), Newfoundland in 1835 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Way migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Way Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Way, English convict who was convicted in Monmouth, Monmouthshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. George Way, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 27th May 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
Mr. Samuel Way, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Egyptian" on 5th April 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Caroline Way, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Duke of Bedford" in 1848 13
Elizabeth Way, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1849 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Way migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Way Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Walter Way, (b. 1818), aged 23, British agricultural labourer travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Timandra" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand on 24th February 1842 15
Mrs. Mary Ann Way, (b. 1818), aged 23, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Timandra" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand on 24th February 1842 15
J. B. Way, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1860
Miss Mary Ann Way, British settler travelling from London, UK with 1 child aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 16
Miss Sarah Way, British settler travelling from London, UK with 1 child aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Way (post 1700) +

Gerard Way (b. 1977), American lead singer of the band My Chemical Romance
DeAndre Way (b. 1990), American rapper, better known by his stage name Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
Danny Way (b. 1974), American professional skateboarder
George F. Way, American politician, Delegate to Maine convention to ratify 21st amendment from Penobscot County, 1933 17
George B. Way (1811-1868), American politician, Mayor of Toledo, Ohio, 1844-45 17
Francis G. Way, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from East Lyme, 1904 17
Ebenezer Way, American politician, Postmaster at New London, Connecticut, 1816-38 17
Daniel S. Way Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 1947-49; Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1948 17
Charles M. Way, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, 1894 17
C. Daniel Way, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Hebron; Elected 1904 17
... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Way family +

HMS Repulse

Mr. Oswald Way, British Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 18

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/egyptian
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DUKE OF BEDFORD 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848DukeofBedford.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DAVID MALCOLM 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849DavidMalcolm.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html