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

Waterford, 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 Waterford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Waterford in America

Waterford is the 70403rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Waterford surname appeared 278 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Waterford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Waterford 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 Waterford

The surname Waterford originated in Ireland and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic words 'uachtar' meaning upper and 'feart' meaning grave or burial place, suggesting that the name may have been associated with a prominent burial site or location.

The name is believed to have first appeared in County Waterford, a coastal region in the southeast of Ireland. This area was known for its strategic importance and was frequently contested by various groups throughout history, including the Vikings, Normans, and English settlers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Waterford can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of Irish history compiled in the late 12th century. The annals mention a certain Muircheartach Ua Briain Waterford, who was a member of the influential Uí Briain dynasty and played a significant role in the political affairs of Munster in the early 12th century.

During the Norman invasion of Ireland in the late 12th century, the city of Waterford became a stronghold for the invading forces. Several individuals bearing the Waterford surname are mentioned in records from this period, suggesting that the name may have been adopted by some of the Norman settlers or their descendants.

One notable figure from this time was Richard de Waterford, who served as the Lord of Waterford and played a pivotal role in the defense of the city against Irish resistance in the late 12th century.

In the 14th century, a prominent member of the Waterford family was Walter Waterford, a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as the Mayor of Waterford in the 1340s. His legacy is still remembered in the city, where a street bears his name.

Another individual of note was John Waterford, a 15th-century cleric who served as the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore from 1450 to 1471. He was known for his efforts in promoting education and religious reform within his diocese.

During the Tudor period, the Waterford surname gained further prominence with the rise of the wealthy and influential Waterford family. One of the most notable members was Sir John Waterford (1520-1589), a successful merchant and landowner who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1568.

While the surname Waterford originated in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and the descendants of Irish emigrants. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the history and geography of County Waterford, where it first emerged as a distinct surname during the Middle Ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Waterford

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

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

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

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