NameCensus.

UK surname

Waithe

An English surname derived from the Old English word "wait" meaning a watchman or guard.

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Waithe surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 186, ranked #20,575, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Croydon and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waithe is 191 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1228.6%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

186

2016, ranked #20,575

Peak year

2011

191 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waithe had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016, ranked #20,575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 21 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Waithe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waithe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waithe 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 13 #30,970
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 21 #32,526
1901 historical 15 #32,383
1911 historical 20 #31,288
1997 modern 146 #21,494
1998 modern 159 #20,916
1999 modern 164 #20,621
2000 modern 156 #21,235
2001 modern 154 #21,122
2002 modern 170 #20,243
2003 modern 170 #20,023
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 171 #19,985
2006 modern 172 #20,073
2007 modern 176 #20,028
2008 modern 171 #20,595
2009 modern 183 #20,135
2010 modern 190 #20,087
2011 modern 191 #19,871
2012 modern 183 #20,356
2013 modern 188 #20,352
2014 modern 183 #20,880
2015 modern 190 #20,272
2016 modern 186 #20,575

Geography

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Where Waithes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Croydon, Lewisham and Merton. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 031 Barnet
2 Croydon 013 Croydon
3 Lewisham 006 Lewisham
4 Lewisham 014 Lewisham
5 Merton 022 Merton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waithe

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waithe

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Waithe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Waithe 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Waithe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Waithe is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waithe falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Waithe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Waithe

The surname WAITHE is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "wath," meaning a ford or shallow part of a river. It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, given to someone who lived near a ford or crossing point over a river.

The earliest recorded instances of the WAITHE surname can be traced back to the 13th century in counties such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where many place names incorporated the word "wath." One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Richard de Wath, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the place name "Watton" appears, which likely shares the same root as the WAITHE surname, further indicating its longstanding presence in England. Variations in spelling over the centuries included Wath, Wathe, Waithe, and Wayth, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations.

Notable individuals bearing the WAITHE surname include Sir Richard Wath (c. 1490-1572), a prominent English lawyer and judge during the reign of Elizabeth I. Another early bearer of the name was John Waith (1588-1644), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.

In the 17th century, Edward Waith (1628-1718) was a English merchant and politician who served as the Mayor of Boston, Lincolnshire. The WAITHE family also had connections to the clergy, with William Waithe (1757-1835) serving as the Archdeacon of Nottingham and later the Bishop of Lincoln.

Moving into the 19th century, Richard Waithe (1825-1904) was a noted English architect who designed numerous churches and public buildings in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. His contemporary, John Waithe (1831-1897), was a successful businessman and philanthropist in London.

Throughout its history, the WAITHE surname has been associated with various occupations and social classes, ranging from tradesmen and clergymen to professionals and landowners, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name of Old English origin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waithe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waithe 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. Shropshire leads with 8 Waithes recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.85x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 8 67.85x
Herefordshire 4 71.56x
Radnorshire 1 90.91x
Surrey 1 1.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hope Baggot in Shropshire leads with 6 Waithes recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
Hope Baggot 6 0.00x
Credenhill 4 40000.00x
Burford 1 5000.00x
Greet 1 0.00x
Old Radnor Walton 1 10000.00x
Streatham 1 99.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Emma 2
Ailnie 1
Alice 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Arthur 1
James 1
Samuel 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Waithe households.

FAQ

Waithe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waithe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Waithe surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waithe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016. That gives Waithe a modern rank of #20,575.

What does the Waithe surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "wait" meaning a watchman or guard.

What does the Waithe map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Waithe 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.