This name is of English locational origin from a place thus called near Cannington in Somerset. Recorded as Radeweye in 'Index to the Charters and Rolls in the British Museum', dated 1241, the name derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century 'rad' (from 'ridan', to ride) plus 'weg', a way or path; hence, 'a path fit for horseback riding'. The surname is first recorded at the beginning of the 13th Century, (see below). One John de Radewaye appears in 'The Somerset County Rolls' dated 1327 and a Stephen Rodweye or Radwaye in 'the Oxford University Register' of 1581. In 1585 William Rodway and Elizabeth Sawnders were married at St. Mary Aldermary, London. On February the 1st 1685 Stephen Rodway appears on a list of convicted rebels transported from Bristol, to the Barbados. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry de (of) Radeweie, which was dated 1205 - 'The Pipe Rolls of Somerset', during the reign of King John, nicknamed Lackland, 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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