Eads is an English surname with two possible origins. Most commonly, it is a patronymic meaning "son of Eda" (a medieval diminutive of Edith), or it may derive as a variant of "son of Adam." The name Edith itself comes from the Old English elements ead ("wealth, fortune") and guð ("battle"), and was historically popular among Anglo-Saxon royalty, including Saint Eadgyeth (daughter of King Edgar the Peaceful). The Adamic derivation links Eads related surnames such as Adams, Adamson, and Addison. Etymology The name Eads originates as a patronymic surname, formed by adding the common English suffix "-s" (meaning "son of") to the given names Eda or Adam. Eda is a medieval diminutive of Edith, while Adam has biblical roots, deriving from Hebrew adamah meaning "ground" or "earth." Over time, Eads became established as a hereditary surname in England, often associated with families from regions where these given names were frequently used. Notable Bearers Eads is also the name of places in the United States, such as Eads, Colorado (statutory town and county seat of Kiowa County) and Eads, Tennessee (an unincorporated community in Shelby County). The surname has also been borne by various individuals in American history, notably James Buchanan Eads (1820–1887), an American civil engineer and inventor who designed the first steel bridge (the Eads Bridge in St. Louis) and worked on the Union Army's ironclad warships during the Civil War. Meaning: "son of Eda" or "son of Adam" Origin: English patronymic surname Usage regions: English-speaking countries, especially United States and United Kingdom Related names: Adams, Adamson, Addison, and other variants of Adam and Edith