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

Waver, 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 Waver surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Waver in America

Waver is the 79598th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Waver surname appeared 239 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 Waver.

We can also compare 2010 data for Waver 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 Waver

The surname Waver has its roots in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "wæfre," meaning "one who wavers or vacillates." This could suggest that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone who was perceived as indecisive or inconsistent in their actions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a certain William le Wauuere is mentioned. The use of the prefix "le" in this spelling indicates that it was likely a descriptive surname, referring to a specific characteristic or occupation of the bearer.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Wavere, Waver, and Wauere, reflecting the fluidity of spelling practices during that time. A notable example is Robert Waver, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1379.

The Waver surname has also been associated with certain place names, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. For instance, there is a village called Waver's Hill in Gloucestershire, which may have influenced the development of the surname in that region.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Waver surname was Sir John Waver, a knight who lived in the late 14th century and was mentioned in the Rolls of Parliament in 1386. Another notable individual was William Waver, who was born in Worcestershire in 1492 and served as a member of the English Parliament in the 16th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Waver surname continued to appear in various records across England. In 1587, a certain Thomas Waver was recorded in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Warwick. Another individual of note was Robert Waver, a merchant from London who was born in 1612 and was involved in the trading of spices and textiles.

In the 18th century, the Waver surname gained prominence in the literary world with the birth of Mary Waver, a renowned poet and playwright who lived from 1721 to 1798. Her works were widely acclaimed and helped to establish the Waver name in the annals of English literature.

While the origins of the Waver surname can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and exploration. However, the name's deep-rooted connections to the counties of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, as well as its potential ties to indecisiveness or inconsistency, remain an intriguing part of its historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Waver

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

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

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

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