Find out how popular the last name Waites is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Waites.

Waites, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Waites surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Waites in America

Waites is the 8635th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Waites surname appeared 3,808 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Waites.

We can also compare 2010 data for Waites to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Waites

The surname Waites is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "waiten" or "waiten," which means "to watch" or "to guard." It is believed to have emerged as an occupational surname during the medieval period, referring to individuals who served as watchmen or guards, particularly those who patrolled the streets at night.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century. One notable mention is found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, where it appears as "Adam le Wayte." This indicates that the name was already in use during that time, likely referring to someone employed as a watchman or guard.

Throughout the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Wayte, Waite, and Waytes. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in record-keeping and spelling conventions during earlier periods.

The Waites surname is also associated with certain place names in England. For instance, there is a village called Waites Court in Somerset, which may have been named after individuals bearing this surname who resided in or owned land in that area.

One of the earliest notable figures associated with this surname was Sir Thomas Waite (c. 1419-1498), an English politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the 15th century.

Another prominent individual was Sir Nicholas Waite (c. 1530-1587), an English diplomat and administrator who served as Secretary of State during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the realm of literature, Robert Waites (1798-1859) was a notable English poet and author who published several works, including "Poems and Songs" (1827) and "The Maid of Moscow" (1836).

During the 18th century, John Waites (1744-1827) was a respected English clockmaker and instrument maker, known for his contributions to the development of precision timepieces.

More recently, Maurice Waites (1913-1992) was a British author and playwright, best known for his novel "Born in Captivity" (1966), which explored the theme of mental illness.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the surname Waites throughout history, highlighting its longstanding presence and varied backgrounds across various fields and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Waites

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Waites.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Waites was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Waites has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Waites was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Waites, please contact us.

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