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

Waits, 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 Waits surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Waits in America

Waits is the 6059th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Waits surname appeared 5,661 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Waits.

We can also compare 2010 data for Waits 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 Waits

The surname "Waits" is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "waiten," which meant "to watch" or "to guard." This occupation-based surname was given to those who served as watchmen or sentries, particularly those who guarded the gates of towns and cities.

In the early days, the name was often spelled as "Wayte" or "Waite," reflecting the phonetic spelling used at the time. Some of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I.

One notable early bearer of this surname was John Waite, a prominent merchant and alderman of London in the 14th century. He is mentioned in historical records from 1349, and his family held significant influence in the city's affairs during that period.

Another historical figure with this surname was William Wayte, a celebrated English scholar and theologian who lived during the 16th century. He was born in 1529 and served as the Rector of Bamburgh in Northumberland.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the records of the Virginia Colony in the United States. One of the earliest settlers bearing this surname was Thomas Waits, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and established a homestead in what is now Henrico County.

A significant individual with this surname was Sir Nicholas Waites, an English politician and judge who lived from 1615 to 1677. He served as the Chief Baron of the Exchequer and played a crucial role in the legal and political affairs of his time.

The Waits surname also has ties to the village of Waite in Staffordshire, England, which may have contributed to the name's origin or provided a place-based variation of the surname.

Throughout history, the Waits surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, merchants, politicians, and settlers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences associated with this ancient English name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Waits

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

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 Waits 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 Waits 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 Waits was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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