Wake Family History

English:: occupational name for ‘(man of) the watch’ from Middle English wak wake ‘wake vigil watch period of guard duty’ (Old English wacu Old Norse vaka). It alternates with the synonymous Middle English wache (Old English wacce) hence the variant Watch.

The surname was also interchangeable with Waite (the equivalent Old French term) which like Wake was sometimes translated as Latin vigil ‘(one who is) watchful alert’. Compare the synonymous Vail.

When the bearers had high social status the surname probably denoted an officer with responsibility for the security of a castle town or royal person. Compare Wakeman.

variant of Wack.