UK surname
Derived from a nickname for a hunter, from Old English wæd, meaning "hunting."
In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Waid surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #25,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Gelligaer, St Mary Whitechapel and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waid is 293 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.1%.
1881 census count
57
Ranked #25,575
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1861
293 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Waid surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Waid surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 170 | #11,780 |
| 1861 | historical | 293 | #8,589 |
| 1881 | historical | 57 | #25,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 284 | #11,542 |
| 1901 | historical | 55 | #28,064 |
| 1911 | historical | 35 | #29,478 |
| 1997 | modern | 17 | #36,181 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 17 | #36,517 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 19 | #36,534 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 24 | #36,341 |
| 2011 | modern | 31 | #35,892 |
| 2012 | modern | 31 | #35,876 |
| 2013 | modern | 30 | #35,990 |
| 2014 | modern | 39 | #35,493 |
| 2015 | modern | 37 | #35,593 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Gelligaer, St Mary Whitechapel, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Kirk Ella (Willerby, Kirk Ella, West Ella), North Ferriby (Swanland) and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gelligaer | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Dover St James, Dover St Mary | Kent |
| 4 | Kirk Ella (Willerby, Kirk Ella, West Ella), North Ferriby (Swanland) | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Waid surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Waid, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Waid surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Waid household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Waid is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Waid is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Waid, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WAID is of English origin, first appearing in records during the late 16th century. It is believed to be a variant spelling of the Old English place name "Weald", which refers to a wooded area or forest. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the WAID surname likely hailed from or resided near such a wooded region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the WAID surname can be found in the parish records of Lamberhurst, Kent, England, where a John Waid was documented in 1594. The variant spelling "Wade" was also common during this period, with several individuals bearing this name appearing in the Hearth Tax Returns for Yorkshire in the late 17th century.
In the 19th century, the WAID surname gained prominence through notable figures such as Sir Patrick Waid (1796-1873), a Scottish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1849 to 1853. Another notable bearer was William Waid (1810-1886), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.
Other historical figures bearing the WAID surname include Robert Waid (1824-1901), a Scottish-born American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of New York City from 1865 to 1866. Additionally, George Waid (1838-1915) was a prominent Australian cricketer who represented Victoria in domestic cricket and played for the English touring team during the 1868 Aboriginal tour of England.
The WAID surname also has connections to various place names, such as Waid House, a historic building located in Anstruther, Scotland, and Waid Academy, a secondary school in Anstruther established in the 17th century by the will of a local merchant named James Waid.
Throughout its history, the WAID surname has been recorded with various spellings, including Wade, Wayde, and Waide, reflecting regional variations and changes in spelling conventions over time. Despite its relatively uncommon nature, the WAID surname has left an indelible mark on various aspects of history, from politics and law to sports and education.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waid surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Isle of Man leads with 12 Waids recorded in 1881 and an index of 101.95x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Isle of Man | 12 | 101.95x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.91x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 0.95x |
| Midlothian | 6 | 7.06x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 3.57x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.66x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 5.30x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.48x |
| Buckinghamshire | 2 | 5.22x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 1.61x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.76x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.77x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.46x |
| Kincardineshire | 1 | 12.95x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.99x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 2.04x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.98x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.47x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.30x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.21x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 7 Waids recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.66x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 7 | 12.66x |
| Onchan | 7 | 206.49x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 6 | 17.56x |
| Longbenton | 5 | 125.31x |
| Bethnal Green London | 4 | 14.52x |
| Malew | 4 | 388.35x |
| Stockport | 4 | 55.56x |
| Guiting Power | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Manchester | 2 | 5.91x |
| Abbots Bromley | 1 | 312.50x |
| Bath St James | 1 | 94.34x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 5.24x |
| Clitheroe | 1 | 45.25x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 6.00x |
| East Hardwick | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Ecclesfield | 1 | 21.69x |
| Fetteresso | 1 | 82.64x |
| Kilpin | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Michael | 1 | 416.67x |
| Norley | 1 | 625.00x |
| Paisley High Church | 1 | 25.58x |
| Pershore St Andrew | 1 | 217.39x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 1 | 17.21x |
| Preston | 1 | 4.97x |
| Richmond | 1 | 23.09x |
| Southampton St Mary | 1 | 12.24x |
| Spittlegate | 1 | 71.43x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.95x |
| Stradbroke | 1 | 384.62x |
| Wandsworth | 1 | 16.39x |
| Wendover | 1 | 243.90x |
| West Derby | 1 | 4.54x |
| Wycombe | 1 | 34.97x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Waid surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Waid surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Waid households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| (Farm) Serv Lad (Indoor) | 1 |
| Assistant | 1 |
| Basket Maker | 1 |
| Calico Weaver (C M) | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Daughter | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servant Housemaid | 1 |
| Farm Serv. (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| Genl Servt (Dom) | 1 |
| Governess (Teacher) | 1 |
| Grocer And Farming 45 Acres | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Master Mariner Carrying 85 Tons Copper Ore | 1 |
| Navigator (Raily Lab) | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Nurse Maid (Dom) | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Pauper | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Sawyer Foxdale Mines | 1 |
| Serv Kitchenmaid | 1 |
| Servant Stable Helper N D | 1 |
| Ship Carpenter | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Waid surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Waid a modern rank of #35,582.
Derived from a nickname for a hunter, from Old English wæd, meaning "hunting."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Waid bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.