NameCensus.

UK surname

Waitt

A surname derived from the Old English word "wait," meaning a watchman or guardian.

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Waitt surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 159, ranked #22,798, down from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Langholm and Eskdale, Shepway and Croydon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waitt is 174 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.3%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

159

2016, ranked #22,798

Peak year

2015

174 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waitt had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016, ranked #22,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 156 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Waitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waitt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waitt 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 85 #18,940
1861 historical 156 #14,813
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 151 #18,242
1901 historical 142 #18,633
1911 historical 149 #17,937
1997 modern 158 #20,422
1998 modern 164 #20,505
1999 modern 165 #20,535
2000 modern 153 #21,520
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 142 #22,687
2003 modern 150 #21,669
2004 modern 145 #22,289
2005 modern 146 #22,146
2006 modern 149 #22,013
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 152 #22,225
2009 modern 161 #21,879
2010 modern 164 #22,109
2011 modern 154 #22,886
2012 modern 158 #22,460
2013 modern 165 #22,163
2014 modern 170 #21,914
2015 modern 174 #21,449
2016 modern 159 #22,798

Geography

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Where Waitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Edinburgh, Elsdon and Elsdon (Rochester), Ramshope. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Langholm and Eskdale, Shepway, Croydon, South Holland and Ashford. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Elsdon Northumberland
5 Elsdon (Rochester), Ramshope Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Langholm and Eskdale Dumfries and Galloway
2 Shepway 001 Shepway
3 Croydon 009 Croydon
4 South Holland 003 South Holland
5 Ashford 014 Ashford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waitt

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Waitt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Waitt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Waitt is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Waitt is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waitt falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Waitt 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 Waitt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Waitt

The surname Waitt is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "wait," which means "watchful" or "vigilant." The name was likely given as a nickname to someone who was particularly observant or attentive.

In the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, compiled in 1273, there is a record of a person named Richard le Wayte, which is considered one of the earliest known instances of the surname. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and estates conducted in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Waitt. However, it does mention places like Waite Hill in Gloucestershire and Waite Wood in Somerset, which may have influenced the development of the surname in those regions.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was John Wayte, who was born in Norfolk, England, around 1390. He was a prominent merchant and served as a member of the Parliament of England during the reign of King Henry IV.

In the 16th century, the surname Waitt was particularly prevalent in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. Sir Thomas Waite (1512-1585), born in Norfolk, was a notable figure who served as a judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable individual with the surname was Sir Nicholas Waitt (1570-1633), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from Suffolk. He made significant contributions to the town of Bury St. Edmunds, including the construction of almshouses and the endowment of a free school.

In the 17th century, the surname Waitt found its way to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded bearers in the New World was John Wayte, who settled in Virginia in 1635.

The Waitt surname has also been associated with various places, such as Waite Hill in Ohio, which was named after one of the early settlers, Samuel Waite, who arrived in the area in the early 19th century.

Throughout history, the surname Waitt has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and military personnel. Examples include William B. Waitt (1839-1912), an American Civil War veteran and politician; Harry Waitt (1867-1947), an English cricketer; and Henry Matson Waite (1787-1869), an American lawyer and politician who served as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waitt 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. Northumberland leads with 26 Waitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.93x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 26 14.93x
Surrey 22 3.86x
Warwickshire 18 6.10x
Middlesex 14 1.20x
Durham 13 3.73x
East Lothian 10 64.52x
Midlothian 6 3.83x
Staffordshire 5 1.27x
Hampshire 2 0.83x
Gloucestershire 1 0.44x
Northamptonshire 1 0.91x
Oxfordshire 1 1.38x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rotherhithe in Surrey leads with 11 Waitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.07x.

Place Total Index
Rotherhithe 11 76.07x
Gladsmuir 10 1449.28x
Gateshead 7 26.85x
St Pancras London 7 7.43x
Birmingham 6 6.10x
Old Stratford 6 359.28x
Penge 6 80.21x
South Leith 6 34.01x
Westoe 6 30.40x
Aston 5 6.15x
Corsenside 5 1851.85x
Rochester 5 3571.43x
Rugeley 5 176.68x
Newington 4 9.25x
Otterburn 4 3076.92x
Harwood 3 30000.00x
Hexham 3 111.52x
Chiswick 2 31.30x
Paddington London 2 4.65x
Portsea 2 4.25x
Westminster St 2 46.40x
Ashby St Ledgers 1 1000.00x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 9.26x
Cheltenham 1 5.65x
Elsdon 1 1250.00x
Eye Dunsden 1 285.71x
High Low Trewhitt 1 2500.00x
Lambeth 1 0.98x
Morpeth 1 48.78x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 11.07x
Prudhoe 1 82.64x
Snitterfield 1 303.03x
St Sepulchre London 1 58.48x
West Whelpington 1 3333.33x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 9
John 8
Walter 6
William 6
Thomas 4
Charles 3
George 2
James 2
Andrew 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fred. 1
Harry 1
Martin 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Waitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Waitt surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016. That gives Waitt a modern rank of #22,798.

What does the Waitt surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "wait," meaning a watchman or guardian.

What does the Waitt map show?

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