waad was twice married; firstly, to alice, daughter of richard patten (d. 1536), widow of thomas searle, and sister of william patten, the historian of somerset’s 1547 expedition into scotland, and secondly to anne marbury, the widow of edward bradley (d.1558), a london haberdasher. according to waad's epitaph he had 20 children by his two wives, 14 of whom predeceased him. all his surviving children were from his first marriage. the eldest surviving son was sir william waad.