This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Waldeve.' No doubt an abbreviation, or nick, of Waldeve or Waltheof, an early English personal name. This was early corrupted to Waldew, and the present forms were inevitable. The name was common (I have many more instances) and must have left descendants. As Waltho or Waldie the name crept northwards into Roxburghshire, and there the surname has flourished for centuries.

Waldief de Haulton, 7 Henry II: Pipe Roll.

Willelmus fil. Waldief, 7 Henry II: ibid.

Waldeve fil. Gamel. temp. Henry II: History Westm. and Cumb.

Waldeof, or Waltheof, or Waldew, fil. Gospatric: Estates and Families of Cumberland, Cumberland, v. Index.

Waldeof. Fil. Dolphin. Henry II: ibid.

Waldeof de Langthwait, Henry II: ibid.

Almost all the instances are confined to North England.

Waldive Lagoe, 1661, Manchester: Exchequer Depositions, Lancashire.

Wilthew, a surname found in Newcastle and the neighbourhood, must be looked upon as an unquestionable descendant of some Walthew or Waldew.

Adam Walthawe, spiar, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Abbreviated forms of Waldeve, which see. Families of this name have been long resident in Roxburghshire, particularly around Kelso. The name occurs in the chartulary of the abbey as Waitho, Watho, and Waitho (Anderson, Scot. Nat.). Sir James Waudy or Waldy was presbyter of Gilstoun and master of Trinity Hospital, Edinburgh, 1526—31 (Soltre, p. 203,213). The name early traveled north, as Ad. Waldi was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1400, Thomas Waldy, son of John Waldy, in 1439, and Walter Vaudy in 1547 (NSCM., I, p. I, 5, 60). Duncan Waudy contributed to church repairs there in 1508 (CRA., p. 79). Walldie 1773. See also Waddie.

= Wald (q.v.) + the Continental Teutonic formerly suff. -o.

(German, English) Descendant of Waldo, a pet form of names beginning with Wald (forest), as Waldomar and Waldorad; descendant of Waldo, a pet form of Waltheof (power, thief).

This family, long settled near Kelso, co. Roxburgh, have at different times written themselves Waitho, Watho, Waltho, and Waldie. The etymology is unknown. Mr. Ferguson makes it the same as the Scandinavian name Valdi.

The leader of those early Protestants, the Vaudois, or Waldenses, was Peter Waldo, a merchant of Lyons, who, in the XII. century, denied transubstantiation, and translated the Gospels into French. Peter Waldo, Esq., the author of a Commentary on the Liturgy of the Church of England (1731-1803), is said to have been a lineal descendant of his illustrious namesake.