NameCensus.

UK surname

Waite

An English occupational surname referring to a watchman, guard, or gatekeeper.

In the 1881 census there were 6,222 people recorded with the Waite surname, ranking it #698 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,180, ranked #711, down from #698 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Torfaen and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waite is 9,630 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.5%.

1881 census count

6,222

Ranked #698

Modern count

9,180

2016, ranked #711

Peak year

1999

9,630 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waite had 6,222 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #698 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,180 in 2016, ranked #711.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,970 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Waite surname distribution map

The map shows where the Waite surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Waite surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waite over time

The 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 3,488 #817
1861 historical 3,515 #804
1881 historical 6,222 #698
1891 historical 6,775 #674
1901 historical 8,428 #635
1911 historical 8,970 #550
1997 modern 9,262 #677
1998 modern 9,538 #683
1999 modern 9,630 #683
2000 modern 9,528 #687
2001 modern 9,271 #692
2002 modern 9,512 #689
2003 modern 9,307 #689
2004 modern 9,291 #688
2005 modern 9,091 #695
2006 modern 9,015 #701
2007 modern 9,110 #701
2008 modern 9,141 #702
2009 modern 9,394 #702
2010 modern 9,564 #702
2011 modern 9,414 #705
2012 modern 9,269 #697
2013 modern 9,429 #700
2014 modern 9,391 #707
2015 modern 9,308 #707
2016 modern 9,180 #711

Geography

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Where Waites are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Torfaen, Leeds, Forest of Dean and Wakefield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 004 Doncaster
2 Torfaen 001 Torfaen
3 Leeds 004 Leeds
4 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
5 Wakefield 001 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waite

These lists show first names that appear often with the Waite surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waite

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Waite, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Waite surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Waite household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Waite is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Waite is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waite falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Waite is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Waite, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Waite

The surname Waite is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "waiten," meaning "to watch" or "to guard." This occupation-based surname first emerged in the Middle Ages, referring to those who performed guard duties or served as watchmen.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Waite can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Waitehomme," referring to a "man who watches." This historical reference highlights the name's association with the occupation of a watchman or sentry.

In the 13th century, the surname Waite was commonly found in Warwickshire and Worcestershire, England. During this period, variations in spelling were common, with names like Wayte, Waitt, and Wayth appearing in various records.

Notable individuals with the surname Waite include Sir Nicholas Waite (c. 1500-1557), an English courtier and diplomat during the reign of Henry VIII. Another prominent figure was William Waite (1610-1666), an English clergyman and one of the founding members of the Royal Society.

In the 18th century, Thomas Waite (1708-1774) was a renowned English architect and surveyor, known for his work on several notable buildings, including the Old Strafford Shire Hall in Nottingham.

Moving into the 19th century, Edgar Waite (1834-1900) was an English theologian and scholar who served as a canon at Winchester Cathedral. Additionally, Ralph Waite (1928-2014) was an American actor best known for his roles in the television series "The Waltons" and "NCIS."

Throughout history, the surname Waite has been associated with various regions in England, including Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Nottinghamshire. The name's origins as an occupation-based surname reflect the important role of watchmen and guards in medieval society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waite families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waite surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 1,726 Waites recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.87x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,726 2.87x
Middlesex 504 0.83x
Lancashire 414 0.58x
Lincolnshire 370 3.82x
Wiltshire 315 5.87x
Surrey 288 0.97x
Gloucestershire 285 2.40x
Durham 237 1.31x
Kent 178 0.86x
Cumberland 153 2.93x
Berkshire 151 3.32x
Sussex 131 1.28x
Monmouthshire 114 2.60x
Northamptonshire 114 2.00x
Oxfordshire 105 2.80x
Warwickshire 88 0.58x
Northumberland 80 0.89x
Hampshire 77 0.62x
Glamorgan 76 0.72x
Leicestershire 73 1.09x
Nottinghamshire 73 0.89x
Staffordshire 73 0.36x
Essex 68 0.57x
Berwickshire 54 7.35x
Cheshire 49 0.37x
Devon 35 0.28x
Somerset 35 0.36x
Huntingdonshire 33 2.74x
Buckinghamshire 32 0.87x
Derbyshire 27 0.28x
Hertfordshire 27 0.65x
Norfolk 26 0.28x
Worcestershire 25 0.32x
Cambridgeshire 20 0.52x
Bedfordshire 17 0.54x
Midlothian 15 0.18x
East Lothian 14 1.74x
Herefordshire 13 0.52x
Shropshire 12 0.23x
West Lothian 10 1.10x
Montgomeryshire 9 0.65x
Perthshire 9 0.33x
Aberdeenshire 8 0.14x
Lanarkshire 7 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.31x
Westmorland 6 0.45x
Brecknockshire 5 0.41x
Cornwall 5 0.07x
Dorset 5 0.13x
Fife 4 0.11x
Dumfriesshire 3 0.22x
Suffolk 3 0.04x
Anglesey 2 0.19x
Royal Navy 2 0.28x
Selkirkshire 2 0.36x
Channel Islands 1 0.06x
Denbighshire 1 0.04x
Stirlingshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 165 Waites recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.86x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 165 4.86x
Guiseley 123 159.86x
Barrow In Furness 52 5.31x
St Pancras London 52 1.07x
Lambeth 50 0.95x
Cheltenham 49 5.34x
Bradford 46 3.16x
Hunslet 46 4.91x
Stranton 45 7.41x
Bethnal Green London 44 1.67x
Paddington London 43 1.93x
Eccleshill 41 28.04x
Nottingham St Mary 41 1.94x
Kensington London 40 1.19x
Newington 39 1.74x
St Marylebone London 39 1.20x
Boston 37 12.58x
Westbury On Severn East 37 13.76x
Calverley Cum Farsley 36 21.10x
Bishopwearmouth 35 2.26x
Yeadon 35 25.80x
Croft 34 216.15x
Wortley In Bramley 34 7.14x
Camberwell 33 0.85x
Cirencester 33 20.50x
Bingley 32 8.36x
Brighton 31 1.50x
West Ham 31 1.17x
Woolwich 31 4.06x
Islington London 30 0.51x
Birmingham 29 0.57x
Headingley Cum Burley 29 7.50x
Idle 29 10.41x
West Overton 29 207.29x
Horton In Bradford 28 2.98x
Bermondsey 26 1.44x
Trowbridge 26 10.97x
Workington 26 8.70x
Darlington 24 3.45x
Daventry 24 29.75x
Dukinfield 24 3.88x
Easton 24 358.21x
Batley 23 4.03x
Chapel Hill 23 269.64x
Manchester 23 0.71x
Broughton In Salford 22 3.34x
Everton 22 0.96x
Hammersmith London 22 1.47x
Barnoldswick 21 25.04x
Brightside Bierlow 21 1.78x
Clifton 21 3.49x
Croydon 21 1.28x
Fishlake 21 184.21x
Leicester St Margaret 21 1.28x
Little Bolton 21 2.27x
Lofthouse 20 22.29x
Manningham 20 2.70x
Shoreditch London 20 0.76x
Swinton Broughton In 20 212.31x
Berwick Upon Tweed 19 9.94x
Bramley In Bramley 19 8.26x
Horfield 19 15.88x
New Bolingbroke 19 439.81x
Sutton In Keighley 19 55.85x
Wigton 19 24.27x
Beswick 18 9.78x
Cardiff St Mary 18 3.10x
Little Dean 18 105.39x
Louth 18 8.10x
Middlesbrough 18 2.30x
Pemberton 18 6.27x
St Woollos 18 3.68x
Ystradyfodwg 18 1.94x
Melton Mowbray 17 14.06x
Orrell 17 19.00x
Peterborough 17 4.12x
Rawdon 17 24.02x
Reading St Mary 17 4.66x
York St Maurice 17 15.03x
Sheffield 16 0.84x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Waite surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 455
Sarah 250
Elizabeth 221
Jane 135
Annie 117
Ann 112
Eliza 90
Emily 86
Ellen 85
Alice 76
Hannah 74
Emma 67
Louisa 56
Margaret 56
Martha 55
Florence 43
Ada 36
Edith 36
Harriet 35
Charlotte 32
Fanny 31
Kate 28
Caroline 27
Clara 26
Maria 26
Anne 23
Lucy 23
Agnes 21
Catherine 21
Susan 21
Isabella 20
Rebecca 20
Rose 19
Esther 18
Eleanor 15
Frances 15
Matilda 15
Susannah 15
Harriett 14
Minnie 14
Gertrude 13
Laura 13
Susanna 13
Ruth 12
Sophia 12
Amelia 11
Rosa 11
Elizth. 10
Eva 10
Helen 9

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Waite surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 380
William 378
Thomas 222
George 204
James 158
Joseph 128
Henry 112
Charles 111
Robert 80
Frederick 67
Arthur 63
Alfred 57
Edward 56
Richard 52
Samuel 50
Walter 48
Albert 43
Harry 38
Edwin 26
Benjamin 25
David 24
Frank 24
Ernest 21
Wm. 21
Herbert 17
Fred 15
Tom 14
Isaac 13
Daniel 12
Francis 12
Edmund 11
Fredrick 11
Christopher 9
Stephen 9
Jesse 8
Mark 8
Thos. 8
Geo. 7
Jacob 7
Willie 7
Abraham 6
Alexander 6
Andrew 6
Anthony 6
Fredk. 6
Luke 6
Harold 5
Robinson 5
Sam 5
Sidney 5

FAQ

Waite surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waite surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,222 people were recorded with the Waite surname. That placed it at #698 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waite surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,180 in 2016. That gives Waite a modern rank of #711.

What does the Waite surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a watchman, guard, or gatekeeper.

What does the Waite map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Waite bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.