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

Waters, 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 Waters surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Waters in America

Waters is the 491st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Waters surname appeared 67,929 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 23 people would have the surname Waters.

We can also compare 2010 data for Waters 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 Waters

The surname Waters originated in England during the medieval period. It is a topographic name that refers to someone who lived near a body of water, such as a river, lake, or stream. The name is derived from the Old English word "waeter," which means water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Waters surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Watere." This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records with different spellings, such as "Atte Watere," "Ater Watere," and "de la Water." These variations reflect the influence of Norman French on the English language during that time.

The Waters surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Water Newton in Cambridgeshire and Waterhead in Cumbria. These place names likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname in those areas.

One notable figure with the surname Waters was John Waters (1628-1692), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Northampton during the reign of Charles II. Another was Thomas Waters (1738-1798), an English composer and organist known for his church music.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Waters surname dates back to the 17th century. John Waters (1666-1744) was an English-born merchant who settled in Philadelphia and became a prominent figure in the city's commerce and politics.

Sarah Waters (born 1966) is a contemporary Welsh novelist known for her novels set in Victorian England, such as "Tipping the Velvet" and "Fingersmith." Her works explore themes of gender, sexuality, and social class during that era.

Another famous individual with the surname is Roger Waters (born 1943), the co-founder, bassist, and principal songwriter of the legendary English rock band Pink Floyd. He is renowned for his conceptual albums and lyrical explorations of various sociopolitical themes.

Overall, the Waters surname has a long and rich history, originating from England and reflecting the country's linguistic and geographical influences over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Waters

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

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

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

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