The name Waite (also Wait, Wayt, Wayte, Wayght, Waight, and Weight) derives from the Old English word for Watch (as in Watchman). The term described the minstrels who originally performed for noble families and later referred to the men who called out the Watch (hour) and performed music to entertain the passers-by. All the Waites of England and Wales are believed to be descendants of Ricardus Le Wayte of the County of Warwick, who was Escheater of the counties of Berkshire, Wilts, Oxford, Bedford, and Bucks in 1315. Ricardus was a direct descendant of Ralf de Waiet, whose wife my nineteenth ggrandmother Emma Emma of Hereford, sister of Roger, Earl of Hereford, and cousin of William the Conqueror. In 1075 A.D., William presented the Earldom, city and castle of Norwich, England, to Ralf de Waiet on his marriage to Emma. I am a direct descendant of Thomas Waite from Rhode Island 1636 here is his link on Geni Thomas Waite of Portsmouth Thank you for stoping by!

From, Roz