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Waite (name)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Waite
Origin
Language(s)English, Norman, German
Word/nameEnglish
MeaningWatchman, Guardian, Defender, Protector
Region of originEurope
Other names
Variant form(s)Wait, Wayte, Waits, Waight, Wächter,
See alsoWilhelm/Willem/William (a name also meaning "protector"), Alexander (a name also meaning "defender")

Waite is an English surname (of Norman origin) and rarely a given name. Its variant forms include Wait, Wayte, Waits and Waight. It is derived from the old high German wahten (to keep watch); it is common in the sense of guard or watchman to all the Teutonic languages,[1] the German wacht, Dutch vaght, Swedish vakt and English watch. When used as a verb, its meaning is "to stay in expectation of"; as a noun, it denotes a minstrel watchmen.

Waite is an occupational name for a watchman either in a town or castle from Anglo-Norman French waite ‘watchman member of the watch’ (of ancient Germanic origin; compare Wachter / Wächter).[2]

The following are named Waite.

Surname

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Given name

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  • Waite Hoyt (1899–1984), American Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Waite Phillips (1883–1964), American petroleum businessman and philanthropist
  • Waite Stirling ((1829–1923), English missionary and first Anglican bishop of the Falkland Islands

Fictional characters

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. C. & G. Merriam Co.
  2. ^ https://www.waitegenealogy.org/FGS/historysurname.pdf