Vadas Family History

Hungarian: from vad ‘wild’ hence a nickname for an unsophisticated person or someone with crazy ideas. Americanized form of Hungarian and Jewish (from Hungary) Vadász ‘hunter’ (see Vadasz).

Czech and Slovak (also Vadás); Croatian: occupational name from Hungarian vadász ‘hunter’ (see Vadasz).

Czech and Slovak (also Vadás): perhaps also from a pet form of the personal name Vadislav, an old altered form of Vladislav, which is based on the element vlad ‘to rule’ (from Old Slavic vlasti later vladati). Compare Wadas.

Jewish (from Hungary): adoption of the name in 1 above either as a Hungarian calque of the formerly used German-based surname or because the Hungarian surname (or word) has some sounds in common with the original surname.