The Wada clan was a branch family of the Miura clan, one of the Banto Hachi Heishi (the Eight Taira clans of the East), and because of their territory in either Wadanosato, Miura District, Sagami Province (current Wada, Hatsuse Town, Miura City, Kanagawa Prefecture) or Wadamikuriya, Awa Province, they chose the family name of Wada.
和田氏は坂東八平氏のひとつ三浦氏の支族で、相模国三浦郡和田の里（神奈川県三浦市初声町和田）、あるいは安房国和田御厨に所領があったことから和田を苗字とする。