NameCensus.

UK surname

Waits

An occupational surname referring to a watchman, guard, or hunter who lies in wait for prey.

In the 1881 census there were 159 people recorded with the Waits surname, ranking it #14,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 101, ranked #30,929, down from #14,935 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Devonport Stonehouse, East and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Trafford, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waits is 159 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.5%.

1881 census count

159

Ranked #14,935

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

1881

159 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waits had 159 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,935 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 159 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Waits surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waits surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waits 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 126 #14,626
1861 historical 154 #14,963
1881 historical 159 #14,935
1891 historical 127 #20,496
1901 historical 83 #24,900
1911 historical 82 #24,635
1997 modern 88 #28,611
1998 modern 89 #29,026
1999 modern 89 #29,168
2000 modern 94 #28,573
2001 modern 91 #28,670
2002 modern 94 #28,797
2003 modern 88 #29,506
2004 modern 79 #30,799
2005 modern 76 #31,267
2006 modern 87 #30,292
2007 modern 87 #30,666
2008 modern 84 #31,370
2009 modern 83 #31,950
2010 modern 85 #32,185
2011 modern 82 #32,449
2012 modern 89 #31,934
2013 modern 94 #31,656
2014 modern 101 #30,855
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Waits' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Devonport Stonehouse, East, London parishes, St Ives and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Trafford, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Birmingham. 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 Devonport Stonehouse, East Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Ives Huntingdonshire
5 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Trafford 018 Trafford
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 017 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 026 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 021 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Birmingham 010 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waits

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waits

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Waits is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Waits is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waits 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 Waits 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 Waits, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Waits

The surname "Waits" is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "waiten," which meant "to watch" or "to guard." This occupation-based surname was given to those who served as watchmen or sentries, particularly those who guarded the gates of towns and cities.

In the early days, the name was often spelled as "Wayte" or "Waite," reflecting the phonetic spelling used at the time. Some of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I.

One notable early bearer of this surname was John Waite, a prominent merchant and alderman of London in the 14th century. He is mentioned in historical records from 1349, and his family held significant influence in the city's affairs during that period.

Another historical figure with this surname was William Wayte, a celebrated English scholar and theologian who lived during the 16th century. He was born in 1529 and served as the Rector of Bamburgh in Northumberland.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the records of the Virginia Colony in the United States. One of the earliest settlers bearing this surname was Thomas Waits, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and established a homestead in what is now Henrico County.

A significant individual with this surname was Sir Nicholas Waites, an English politician and judge who lived from 1615 to 1677. He served as the Chief Baron of the Exchequer and played a crucial role in the legal and political affairs of his time.

The Waits surname also has ties to the village of Waite in Staffordshire, England, which may have contributed to the name's origin or provided a place-based variation of the surname.

Throughout history, the Waits surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, merchants, politicians, and settlers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences associated with this ancient English name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waits families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waits 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 29 Waits' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.90x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 29 1.90x
Middlesex 23 1.49x
Durham 13 2.84x
Norfolk 13 5.49x
Lancashire 10 0.55x
Cambridgeshire 9 9.22x
Surrey 9 1.20x
Monmouthshire 8 7.18x
Somerset 8 3.23x
Huntingdonshire 7 22.88x
Essex 6 1.97x
Devon 5 1.56x
Glamorgan 3 1.12x
Northamptonshire 3 2.07x
Warwickshire 3 0.77x
Gloucestershire 2 0.66x
Roxburghshire 2 7.17x
Cheshire 1 0.29x
Cumberland 1 0.75x
Herefordshire 1 1.58x
Perthshire 1 1.45x
Worcestershire 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 13 Waits' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.05x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 13 15.05x
Penshaw 9 652.17x
East Tuddenham 8 3333.33x
Newchurch 8 53.48x
Scarborough 8 57.64x
Camberwell 7 7.11x
Gembling 7 11666.67x
St Ives 7 440.25x
Great Driffield 6 191.69x
East Stonehouse 5 79.11x
Goytrey 5 1388.89x
Willingham 5 602.41x
St Marylebone London 4 4.86x
West Ham 4 5.96x
Alpington 3 3333.33x
Durham St Nicholas 3 265.49x
Halifax 3 13.38x
Irchester 3 333.33x
North Curry 3 357.14x
Roath 3 24.61x
Barking 2 22.47x
Broadway 2 833.33x
Cottam 2 3333.33x
Cottenham 2 153.85x
Honingham 2 1111.11x
Islington London 2 1.34x
Rogerstone 2 289.86x
St Andrewthe Less 2 17.94x
Stratford On Avon 2 92.59x
West Bradley Lottisham 2 2500.00x
Wilton 2 65.36x
Birmingham 1 0.77x
Blackburn 1 2.06x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 3.51x
Castleford 1 17.99x
Cockermouth 1 35.84x
Garston 1 18.52x
Harthill Cum Woodall 1 172.41x
Hereford St Owen 1 47.85x
Kings Norton 1 5.54x
Lambeth 1 0.74x
Newport 1 18.83x
Paddington London 1 1.76x
Poplar London 1 3.44x
Rattray 1 62.11x
Ruardean 1 147.06x
Southwark St Saviour 1 12.63x
St Pancras London 1 0.81x
Stockport 1 5.71x
Wawne 1 625.00x
Weston 1 52.36x
Whitechapel London 1 6.58x
Whorlton 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 9
Mary 7
Emma 6
Elizabeth 5
Catherine 4
Margaret 4
Annie 3
Hannah 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Ann 2
Isabella 2
Louisa 2
Annabel 1
Caroline 1
Elizebeth 1
Ellen 1
Eva 1
Harriet 1
Hilda 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Madelina 1
Martha 1
Rhoda 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1
Tella 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 11
James 9
Walter 6
Henry 5
Joseph 5
Edward 4
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
George 2
Richard 2
Aaron 1
Alb. 1
Alfred 1
Atkin 1
Byron 1
Charles 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Garner 1
Herbit 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Job 1
Robert 1
Tom 1
Wallis 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Waits surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waits surname in 1881?

In 1881, 159 people were recorded with the Waits surname. That placed it at #14,935 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waits surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Waits a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Waits surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a watchman, guard, or hunter who lies in wait for prey.

What does the Waits map show?

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