Wada is a Japanese surname with deep roots in the country's landscape and aesthetic values. It is composed of two wa (和) meaning "harmony, peace" and ta (田) meaning "field, rice paddy." The name thus evokes a peaceful agrarian scene, blending tranquility with the essential rice field that has been central to Japanese culture and sustenance for millennia.
The Wada family name is among the many Japanese surnames derived from geographical features or local place names. The first element, wa, is a common character in Japanese names conveying harmony or Japan itself (as in Nihon, where wa is part of the country's name). The second element, ta, appears in numerous surnames such as Tanaka (田 中, "in the rice paddy") and Yamada (山 田, "mountain rice paddy").
It has not only Japanese but also English and other attestations, having borrowed into English as a surname. In Japanese, Wada is also a transcription of various given names.
Worldwide, the name Wada appears in Japan, with diaspora present in Brazil, the United States, and other countries. It is a relatively common surname in Japan.
Sources: Wiktionary — Wada