NameCensus.

UK surname

Waterfall

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a cascading flow of water.

In the 1881 census there were 495 people recorded with the Waterfall surname, ranking it #6,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 713, ranked #7,611, down from #6,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duffield, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Darley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley, Stafford and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waterfall is 795 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.0%.

1881 census count

495

Ranked #6,826

Modern count

713

2016, ranked #7,611

Peak year

1999

795 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waterfall had 495 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 713 in 2016, ranked #7,611.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 680 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Waterfall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waterfall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waterfall 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 285 #7,952
1861 historical 318 #7,999
1881 historical 495 #6,826
1891 historical 515 #7,249
1901 historical 566 #7,384
1911 historical 680 #6,214
1997 modern 764 #6,783
1998 modern 793 #6,800
1999 modern 795 #6,832
2000 modern 782 #6,899
2001 modern 749 #6,990
2002 modern 750 #7,108
2003 modern 732 #7,137
2004 modern 714 #7,273
2005 modern 705 #7,297
2006 modern 709 #7,283
2007 modern 707 #7,362
2008 modern 706 #7,433
2009 modern 727 #7,414
2010 modern 738 #7,464
2011 modern 746 #7,340
2012 modern 719 #7,460
2013 modern 726 #7,527
2014 modern 734 #7,509
2015 modern 726 #7,518
2016 modern 713 #7,611

Geography

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Where Waterfalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duffield, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Darley, Sheffield and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Amber Valley, Stafford and Derbyshire Dales. 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 Duffield Derbyshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Darley Derbyshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 010 Amber Valley
2 Amber Valley 015 Amber Valley
3 Stafford 012 Stafford
4 Derbyshire Dales 004 Derbyshire Dales
5 Amber Valley 009 Amber Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waterfall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waterfall

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Waterfall, 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 Waterfall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Waterfall 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, Waterfall 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

Waterfall is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Waterfall

The surname "WATERFALL" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a topographic name, derived from the Old English words "wæter" meaning water and "fallan" meaning to fall. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a waterfall or a place with a significant waterfall feature.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Waterfal, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292. Another early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, which mentions a John atte Waterfall.

During the medieval period, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Waterfal, Waterfalle, and Waterfallys, reflecting the fluidity of spelling conventions at the time. It is also possible that the name may have derived from a specific place name, such as Waterfall in Staffordshire or Waterfall in Yorkshire, although this connection is less certain.

Notable individuals with the surname Waterfall include:

1. John Waterfall (c. 1530-1595), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Yarmouth in 1589. 2. Thomas Waterfall (1595-1677), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Ipswich. 3. William Waterfall (1670-1738), an English merchant and philanthropist who founded the Waterfall School in London. 4. George Waterfall (1810-1888), a British engineer and inventor known for his contributions to the development of steam engines and railways. 5. Mary Waterfall (1879-1965), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and was imprisoned for her participation in protests.

While the name Waterfall is not as common as some other English surnames, it has persisted throughout history and can be found in various regions of England, particularly in areas with notable waterfalls or bodies of water. The name serves as a reminder of the rich tapestry of toponymic surnames that emerged from the landscapes and geographic features of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waterfall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waterfall 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. Derbyshire leads with 143 Waterfalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.92x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 143 18.92x
Yorkshire 112 2.34x
Warwickshire 40 3.28x
Middlesex 29 0.60x
Staffordshire 29 1.78x
Lincolnshire 22 2.85x
Nottinghamshire 19 2.92x
Lancashire 15 0.26x
Cambridgeshire 13 4.25x
Surrey 13 0.55x
Durham 11 0.77x
Kent 11 0.67x
Devon 6 0.60x
Dorset 6 1.89x
Hampshire 6 0.61x
Gloucestershire 5 0.53x
Sussex 4 0.49x
Wiltshire 4 0.94x
Cheshire 2 0.19x
Essex 2 0.21x
Worcestershire 2 0.32x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Belper in Derbyshire leads with 62 Waterfalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 422.92x.

Place Total Index
Belper 62 422.92x
Darley 29 950.82x
Nether Hallam 28 43.26x
Coventry St Michael 19 48.57x
Upper Hallam 19 456.73x
Alfreton 17 74.01x
Ecclesall Bierlow 17 17.47x
Coventry Holy Trinity 15 41.25x
Sheffield 15 9.85x
Gedney Hill 14 2592.59x
Darlington 11 19.83x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 6.36x
Mappleton 10 3125.00x
Radford 10 30.25x
Wimblington 10 555.56x
Deptford St Paul 9 7.08x
Fenny Bentley 9 2195.12x
Newington 8 4.49x
Burton Upon Trent 7 18.36x
Codnor Park 7 395.48x
Ilam 7 2058.82x
Islington London 7 1.50x
Kensington London 7 2.61x
Brightside Bierlow 6 6.39x
Wilnecote 6 171.92x
Brant Broughton 5 446.43x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 15.83x
Holdenhurst 5 19.26x
Hulme 5 4.18x
Plymouth Charles The 5 11.29x
Potter Newton 5 59.24x
Snenton 5 19.55x
St Pancras London 5 1.29x
Wakefield 5 13.61x
Halifax 4 5.69x
Hornsey 4 6.55x
Liverpool 4 1.15x
Tollard Royal 4 869.57x
Wimborne 4 104.44x
Ackworth 3 81.52x
Chelsea London 3 2.06x
Stone 3 14.39x
Ashborne 2 38.91x
Bakewell 2 48.31x
Brassington 2 175.44x
Camberwell 2 0.65x
Claines 2 11.56x
Gamlingay 2 62.89x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 6.49x
Leeds 2 0.74x
Matlock 2 19.70x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.19x
Rotherham 2 7.42x
Rotherhithe 2 3.35x
St George Hanover 2 3.17x
Sutton 2 10.41x
Ticehurst 2 40.16x
West Ham 2 0.95x
Wimborne Minster 2 38.99x
Airton 1 294.12x
Alford 1 20.92x
Brighton 1 0.61x
Caxton 1 106.38x
Cliffe 1 26.88x
Everton 1 0.55x
Eynesbury 1 45.05x
Handsworth 1 2.49x
Higher Booths 1 9.68x
Hove 1 2.80x
Macclesfield 1 2.11x
Nantwich 1 8.08x
Plumstead 1 1.82x
Portsea 1 0.52x
Radford Lenton 1 61.73x
St Marylebone London 1 0.39x
Streatham 1 2.79x
Toxteth Park 1 0.52x
Ulverston 1 5.99x
Whaplode 1 38.02x
Woolfardisworthy 1 68.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 23
Charles 17
Henry 13
James 13
Thomas 11
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Joseph 8
Edward 6
Walter 6
Ernest 5
George 5
Robert 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Seymour 4
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Wm 3
Abel 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Alice 1
Amos 1
Benjm 1
Benjm. 1
C. 1
Edmund 1
Elliot 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
G.H. 1
Geo.H. 1
Infant 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Jno.Thos. 1
Oliver 1
Osmand 1
Percy 1
Richd.Miles 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Waterfall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waterfall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 495 people were recorded with the Waterfall surname. That placed it at #6,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waterfall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 713 in 2016. That gives Waterfall a modern rank of #7,611.

What does the Waterfall surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a cascading flow of water.

What does the Waterfall map show?

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