NameCensus.

UK surname

Waterfield

A surname deriving from a place name referring to a field or meadow by water.

In the 1881 census there were 1,214 people recorded with the Waterfield surname, ranking it #3,329 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,021, ranked #3,185, up from #3,329 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, London parishes and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Ashfield and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waterfield is 2,131 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.5%.

1881 census count

1,214

Ranked #3,329

Modern count

2,021

2016, ranked #3,185

Peak year

1999

2,131 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waterfield had 1,214 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,329 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,021 in 2016, ranked #3,185.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,931 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Waterfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waterfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waterfield 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 750 #3,537
1861 historical 977 #2,846
1881 historical 1,214 #3,329
1891 historical 1,523 #2,904
1901 historical 1,722 #3,004
1911 historical 1,931 #2,573
1997 modern 2,048 #3,000
1998 modern 2,124 #3,009
1999 modern 2,131 #3,025
2000 modern 2,117 #3,019
2001 modern 2,085 #3,004
2002 modern 2,079 #3,072
2003 modern 2,014 #3,096
2004 modern 1,992 #3,126
2005 modern 1,970 #3,127
2006 modern 1,962 #3,148
2007 modern 1,980 #3,154
2008 modern 1,992 #3,156
2009 modern 2,055 #3,143
2010 modern 2,087 #3,165
2011 modern 2,063 #3,156
2012 modern 1,997 #3,199
2013 modern 2,031 #3,200
2014 modern 2,060 #3,186
2015 modern 2,044 #3,166
2016 modern 2,021 #3,185

Geography

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Where Waterfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, London parishes, St Werburgh, Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Ashfield, Wolverhampton and Northampton. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Werburgh Derbyshire
4 Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth Leicestershire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 002 Fenland
2 Fenland 003 Fenland
3 Ashfield 004 Ashfield
4 Wolverhampton 005 Wolverhampton
5 Northampton 001 Northampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waterfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waterfield

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Waterfield is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Waterfield is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waterfield 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 Waterfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Waterfield

The surname Waterfield is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English words "waeter" meaning water and "feld" meaning field. It is an occupational surname that originally referred to someone who lived near a field or meadow with a stream or river running through it.

The earliest known record of the surname Waterfield dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Waterfelde" in the county of Sussex, England. This suggests that the name was already well-established in certain parts of England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was found in various forms, including Watrefelde, Watirfelde, and Watyrfeld, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation at the time. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name include Robert de Waterfelde in Oxfordshire in 1273 and John de Waterfeld in Leicestershire in 1327.

In the late 14th century, the surname Waterfield began to appear in the records of several English counties, such as Berkshire, Gloucestershire, and Suffolk. This indicates that the name had spread to different regions as families migrated or established new branches.

One notable bearer of the Waterfield surname was Sir William Waterfield (1592-1671), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Maldon, Essex, during the English Civil War. Another prominent figure was Sir Henry Waterfield (1788-1842), a British diplomat and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Sierra Leone from 1834 to 1838.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, several Waterfields made significant contributions in various fields. Robert Waterfield (1714-1777) was an English painter and engraver, while Thomas Waterfield (1741-1819) was a noted English architect responsible for designing several country houses and churches.

The surname Waterfield has also been associated with literary figures, such as Reverend Rodolph Waterfield (1798-1878), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, and Giles Waterfield (born 1949), a British art historian and author known for his books on English art and architecture.

Overall, the surname Waterfield has a rich history spanning centuries, originating from the Old English language and reflecting the occupational and geographical roots of its earliest bearers in medieval England. It has been carried by notable individuals in various fields, further contributing to its diverse legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waterfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waterfield 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. Leicestershire leads with 178 Waterfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.36x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 178 13.36x
Staffordshire 161 3.97x
Derbyshire 106 5.63x
Middlesex 106 0.88x
Nottinghamshire 95 5.86x
Devon 78 3.12x
Lincolnshire 65 3.38x
Northamptonshire 61 5.40x
Yorkshire 53 0.45x
Norfolk 42 2.27x
Lancashire 40 0.28x
Kent 32 0.78x
Rutland 23 26.07x
Warwickshire 22 0.73x
Surrey 21 0.36x
Hampshire 18 0.73x
Channel Islands 15 4.21x
Bedfordshire 14 2.25x
Caernarfonshire 13 2.68x
Shropshire 13 1.25x
Sussex 10 0.49x
Cornwall 8 0.59x
Monmouthshire 8 0.92x
Oxfordshire 8 1.08x
Essex 7 0.30x
Cheshire 6 0.23x
Worcestershire 6 0.38x
Glamorgan 4 0.19x
Suffolk 3 0.20x
Cumberland 2 0.19x
Gloucestershire 2 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.52x
Royal Navy 2 1.40x
Somerset 2 0.10x
Berkshire 1 0.11x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.13x
Dorset 1 0.13x
Hertfordshire 1 0.12x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.36x
Wiltshire 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. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 61 Waterfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.48x.

Place Total Index
Sedgley 61 40.48x
Leicester St Margaret 41 12.62x
Kingswinford 36 24.44x
Derby St Alkmund 32 56.75x
Snenton 25 39.28x
Woodhouse 22 415.09x
Loughborough 21 34.73x
Harborne 19 14.61x
Mansfield 19 33.90x
Plymouth Charles The 19 17.24x
Nottingham St Mary 18 4.30x
Plymouth St Andrew 18 9.34x
Walsall Foreign 18 8.59x
Hackney London 17 2.52x
Peterborough 17 20.77x
Church Gresley 16 53.44x
St Peter Port 15 22.77x
Tavistock 15 52.63x
Aston 14 1.68x
Harpley 14 800.00x
Cainham 13 270.27x
Dunstable 13 67.99x
Llanaelhaiarn 13 217.03x
Shearsby 13 1214.95x
Derby St Peter 12 20.02x
Kensington London 12 1.80x
Leicester St Mary 11 10.22x
Norwich St Martin At 11 352.56x
Shoreditch London 11 2.11x
Staunton Harold 11 1134.02x
Wirksworth 11 64.29x
Basford 10 13.39x
Haslingden 10 16.93x
Hucknall Torkard 10 24.34x
Islington London 10 0.86x
Ormesby 10 31.24x
Warrington 10 5.92x
West Bromwich 10 4.31x
Whitwick 10 59.03x
Gillingham 9 10.65x
Great Oxendon 9 937.50x
Sheffield 9 2.37x
Stamford All Sts 9 83.64x
Swinton In Rotherham 9 28.58x
Bermondsey 8 2.24x
Birmingham 8 0.79x
Ilkeston 8 15.17x
Kingsthorpe 8 63.69x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 8 48.28x
Ryhall 8 273.04x
Shottle Postern 8 747.66x
Spalding 8 20.98x
Accrington 7 5.40x
Breedon On The Hill 7 174.13x
Hammersmith London 7 2.36x
Hastings St Mary 7 13.88x
Horncastle 7 35.30x
St Pancras London 7 0.72x
Stoke Damerel 7 4.00x
West Ham 7 1.34x
Ashby De La Zouch 6 19.42x
Banbury 6 40.38x
Barrow Upon Soar 6 54.55x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.12x
Dudley 6 3.14x
Leicester All Sts 6 22.93x
Maidstone 6 4.91x
Middlesbrough 6 3.87x
Mortlake 6 22.99x
Northampton St Sepulchre 6 10.43x
Oakham Lordshold 6 64.94x
Pennington In Leigh 6 21.93x
Stamford St George 6 69.52x
Wolverhampton 6 1.92x
Barrowby 5 150.60x
Bethnal Green London 5 0.96x
Gretton 5 145.35x
Kirton 5 64.94x
Portsea 5 1.04x
St Eval 5 458.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 88
William 77
Thomas 46
George 33
Joseph 31
Charles 24
Henry 21
Arthur 19
James 17
Albert 14
Alfred 13
Frederick 12
Edward 10
Harry 10
Richard 10
Samuel 10
Robert 8
Herbert 6
David 5
Job 5
Walter 5
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Mathew 4
Nathaniel 4
Tom 4
Emanuel 3
Francis 3
Thos. 3
Ambrose 2
Andrew 2
Bailey 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Isaiah 2
Israel 2
Jacob 2
Josiah 2
Kelham 2
Milton 2
Theophilos 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Bryan 1
Everett 1
Frane 1
Wm.Jno.Henry 1

FAQ

Waterfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waterfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,214 people were recorded with the Waterfield surname. That placed it at #3,329 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waterfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,021 in 2016. That gives Waterfield a modern rank of #3,185.

What does the Waterfield surname mean?

A surname deriving from a place name referring to a field or meadow by water.

What does the Waterfield map show?

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