What does the surname Wagstaff mean?

Answer 1

The name Wagstaff or Wagstaffe, dates to 16th century England. Many people in towns had names that soon reflected their actual jobs. A Wagstaff, was a man who would stand in the square and deliver news to the villagers. He would wag the quarterstaff or stave for attention and then say things like, "Hear yee, Hear yee, gather round", and possibly deliver news of hangings and Propaganda, or news directed from the king. The staff was also considered to be part of the office or weapon of a Beadle (or a herald, to summon people) who was a minor parish officer. In older times, there was usually only, say for example, one black smith in a town, and one carpenter... so the names reflecting jobs were easier to remember, because there was only one Smith in town. This method could even be applied to William Shakespeare, as a Shakespeare would shake a spear. Over the years variations of the name came about, either because it was miss spelled (not many people could write), or perhaps more people with the same job became too complicated, and E's were added to the end of the names like Shakespeare, Wagstaffe, or Flagstaffe (as in one who holds the flag on the staff).