Weathers
Derived from a nickname for someone who had a stormy temperament or a weather-beaten face.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 16,349 Americans carry the last name Weathers. That puts it at #2,568 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.77 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 20,965 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Weathers surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
16K
1 in 20,965
Census rank
#2,568
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
14K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 14,073 bearers of the surname Weathers in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.77 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2568th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Weathers, the largest self-reported group is White at 60.0%. The next largest groups are Black (33.7%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Weathers
The surname Weathers is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "wederu", meaning "weather", and was initially given as a nickname to someone who had an interest in observing the weather or was often affected by inclement conditions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Weathers can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a Walter le Wedere is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the surname over time.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Patent Rolls of 1324, which referenced a John Wedere from Lincolnshire. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also contained an entry for a Robert le Wedere from Oxfordshire.
During the 15th century, the surname began to take on its more modern spelling. The Hearth Tax Rolls of 1674 listed a Thomas Weathers from Yorkshire, and the Parish Registers of Warwickshire from 1683 recorded the marriage of a William Weathers.
Notable individuals with the surname Weathers include John Weathers (1579-1653), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. Another prominent figure was Mary Weathers (1768-1842), an American pioneer and landowner in Kentucky.
In the 19th century, James Weathers (1835-1910) was a prominent businessman and politician in Texas, serving as the mayor of San Antonio. During the same period, William Weathers (1828-1902) was a Union Army soldier who fought in the American Civil War and received the Medal of Honor for his bravery.
Additionally, the name Weathers has been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Weathers Field in Wiltshire and Weathers Farm in Gloucestershire, reflecting the geographical distribution of the surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Weathers
Among Census respondents with the surname Weathers, the largest self-reported group is White at 60.0%. The next largest groups are Black (33.7%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Weathers bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Weathers surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White60.0%
- Black or African American33.7%
- Two or more races2.9%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Weathers surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,568 | #2,568 | 0.0% |
| Count | 14,073 | 14,073 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 4.77 | 4.77 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Weathers bearers went from 14,073 to 14,073 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,568 to #2,568.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Weathers
FAQ
Weathers surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Weathers?
The surname Weathers holds position #2,568 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 16,349 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 4.77 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Weathers surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Weathers, the largest self-reported group is White at 60.0%. The next largest groups are Black (33.7%) and Two or More Races (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.