from Dictionary of Irish Family Names by Ida Grehan p. 244 variations on the name: MacQuaid, MacQuoid, MacWade Gaelic spelling is Mac Uaid - son of Wat - son of Walter "Its original territory was County Monaghan, and later Fermanagh and Offaly." from Edward MacLysaght - More Irish Families p. 175 has a listing for Qualter - Mac Walter - he says it is a branch of the de Burgo or Burke group - Hiberno-Norman names.