Shad Family History
Shad Surname Meaning
Muslim (Indian subcontinent and Iran): from a personal name based on Persian shād ‘happy cheerful’. English (Middlesex): nickname for someone who caught or sold shad fish from Middle English s(c)had ‘shad’ (Old English sceadd).
During the Old English period there was a ‘shad season’ so the fish must have been of some economic importance.
Americanized form of German Schad.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022
