Strader
A surname likely tied to the idea of striding or spreading—probably a nickname for a person with a long stride or a broad stance.
The #5,630 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 50,024 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is usually explained from an old English word-family related to stride and spread. The excerpt points to forms like Old English 'strǣd' or a related verb meaning to spread or stride, with the added agent ending '-er' giving the sense of 'one who strides' or 'one who spreads.' In practice, that would make Strader a descriptive nickname surname, probably first applied to someone noted for an unusual gait, stance, or manner of movement.
History
The name is most familiar in English-speaking areas, especially North America, where it appears as a relatively uncommon surname. Like many nickname surnames, it may have arisen independently in more than one place from the same descriptive root. The historical spelling may also have varied, with forms influenced by local pronunciation and spelling habits.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The dictionary excerpt connects the name with both 'stride' and 'spread,' showing how older surname explanations often grouped several similar-looking words together.
From the historical record
“man ; a violent man. Strader. Strade, imperfect of stredan, to spread ; ere, an agent. One who spreads, or straddles. Or, from strcede, a stride ; ere, one who. One who strides. Stradifiger. Strade, spread ; i?tg, implying action ; ere, an agent. A straddling person.”
— Family Names from the Irish, Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Norman and Scotch