NameCensus.

UK surname

Waterhouse

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a building used for storing water.

In the 1881 census there were 4,567 people recorded with the Waterhouse surname, ranking it #980 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,456, ranked #1,527, down from #980 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Glossop and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include High Peak, Bradford and Rother.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waterhouse is 5,688 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.4%.

1881 census count

4,567

Ranked #980

Modern count

4,456

2016, ranked #1,527

Peak year

1911

5,688 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waterhouse had 4,567 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #980 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,456 in 2016, ranked #1,527.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,688 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Waterhouse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waterhouse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waterhouse 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 3,204 #903
1861 historical 3,218 #893
1881 historical 4,567 #980
1891 historical 4,885 #956
1901 historical 5,301 #1,062
1911 historical 5,688 #923
1997 modern 4,642 #1,410
1998 modern 4,780 #1,419
1999 modern 4,773 #1,439
2000 modern 4,761 #1,428
2001 modern 4,637 #1,438
2002 modern 4,745 #1,437
2003 modern 4,630 #1,438
2004 modern 4,637 #1,429
2005 modern 4,548 #1,439
2006 modern 4,464 #1,469
2007 modern 4,482 #1,476
2008 modern 4,497 #1,479
2009 modern 4,586 #1,491
2010 modern 4,638 #1,506
2011 modern 4,601 #1,494
2012 modern 4,509 #1,501
2013 modern 4,580 #1,501
2014 modern 4,567 #1,511
2015 modern 4,520 #1,514
2016 modern 4,456 #1,527

Geography

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Where Waterhouses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Glossop, Bradford, Keighley and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to High Peak, Bradford and Rother. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 High Peak 013 High Peak
2 Bradford 004 Bradford
3 Bradford 059 Bradford
4 Bradford 015 Bradford
5 Rother 003 Rother

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waterhouse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waterhouse

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Waterhouse, 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 Waterhouse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Waterhouse 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, Waterhouse 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

Waterhouse is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waterhouse falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Waterhouse

The surname Waterhouse is of English origin, derived from a topographical name for someone who lived near a body of water, such as a river, lake, or stream. The name can be traced back to the 12th century and is believed to have originated from the Old English words "wæter" meaning water, and "hus" meaning house or dwelling.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Waterhouse can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195, where it is listed as "Waterhus." This spelling variation indicates that the name was initially used to describe a house or dwelling near a body of water.

During the Middle Ages, the name Waterhouse appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners and their holdings. The name was also mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

One notable figure bearing the surname Waterhouse was Sir Edward Waterhouse (1619-1670), an English politician and diplomat who served as Secretary of State under Oliver Cromwell during the Commonwealth period. Another prominent individual was Nicholas Waterhouse (1510-1587), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs.

In the literary world, the name Waterhouse is associated with Graham Waterhouse (1923-2010), a British author and playwright known for his works exploring social issues and working-class life in England. Additionally, Alfred Waterhouse (1830-1905) was a renowned English architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings, including the Natural History Museum in London.

The name Waterhouse has also been linked to various place names and locations throughout England, such as Waterhouse Lane in Staffordshire, Waterhouses in Durham, and Waterhouse Farm in Oxfordshire. These place names further reinforce the topographical origins of the surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname Waterhouse include John Waterhouse (1809-1876), a British artist known for his Pre-Raphaelite paintings; Benjamin Waterhouse (1754-1846), an American physician who introduced smallpox vaccination to the United States; and Ellis Waterhouse (1905-1985), a British art historian and author who specialized in British painting.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waterhouse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waterhouse 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 1,860 Waterhouses recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.22x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,860 4.22x
Lancashire 1,050 1.99x
Derbyshire 367 5.27x
Cheshire 208 2.12x
Middlesex 157 0.35x
Kent 129 0.85x
Worcestershire 105 1.81x
Surrey 103 0.47x
Staffordshire 96 0.64x
Lincolnshire 89 1.25x
Warwickshire 85 0.76x
Nottinghamshire 57 0.95x
Sussex 55 0.73x
Durham 35 0.26x
Hampshire 35 0.38x
Essex 26 0.30x
Berkshire 18 0.54x
Leicestershire 13 0.26x
Gloucestershire 9 0.10x
Cumberland 8 0.21x
Flintshire 7 0.59x
Westmorland 7 0.72x
Northumberland 6 0.09x
Renfrewshire 6 0.17x
Shropshire 6 0.16x
Hertfordshire 5 0.16x
Lanarkshire 5 0.03x
Monmouthshire 3 0.09x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.07x
Norfolk 2 0.03x
Ayrshire 1 0.03x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Devon 1 0.01x
Dorset 1 0.03x
Isle of Man 1 0.12x
Oxfordshire 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 0.19x
Rutland 1 0.31x
Wiltshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pudsey in Yorkshire leads with 97 Waterhouses recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.14x.

Place Total Index
Pudsey 97 41.14x
Hayfield 94 219.88x
Leeds 91 3.65x
Chinley Bugsworth 89 486.07x
Bradford 86 8.05x
Keighley 84 17.87x
Oldbury 74 25.88x
Preston 74 5.24x
Manchester 72 3.03x
Walton Le Dale 68 47.91x
Glossop Dale 67 20.53x
Ashton Under Lyne 66 5.72x
Manningham 62 11.41x
Blackburn 61 4.34x
Meltham 60 87.48x
Dewsbury 57 12.60x
Horsforth 49 50.67x
Oldham 47 2.76x
Hunsworth 45 194.47x
Aston 42 1.36x
Horton In Bradford 42 6.10x
Idle 42 20.54x
Owston 41 202.97x
Bingley 36 12.82x
Dukinfield 36 7.93x
Hulme 33 2.99x
Sheffield 33 2.35x
Eccleshill 32 29.81x
Fulstone 32 99.16x
Camberwell 31 1.09x
Saddleworth 31 9.11x
Great Harwood 30 31.42x
Deptford St Paul 29 2.48x
Shipley 29 12.67x
Calverley Cum Farsley 28 22.36x
Lancaster 28 8.91x
Accrington 27 5.62x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 27 58.89x
Birmingham 27 0.72x
Salford 27 1.74x
Gomersal 26 12.63x
Birkenhead 25 3.19x
Tong 25 29.34x
Heaton 24 50.64x
Bramley In Bramley 23 13.62x
Northowram 23 7.44x
Sedgley 22 3.94x
West Derby 22 1.42x
Burwash 21 60.31x
Frindsbury 21 36.69x
Harborne 21 4.36x
Liversedge 21 10.70x
Stayley 21 18.70x
Tintwistle 21 40.00x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 20 4.87x
Paddington London 20 1.22x
Islington London 19 0.44x
Nether Hallam 19 3.18x
Yeadon 19 19.08x
Brightside Bierlow 18 2.08x
Clayton 18 16.67x
Ecclesall Bierlow 18 2.01x
Ecclesfield 18 5.57x
Elton 18 9.86x
Liverpool 18 0.56x
North Meols 18 3.48x
Broughton In Salford 17 3.52x
Halifax 17 2.63x
Layton With Warbreck 17 8.77x
Castleford 16 9.96x
Great Bolton 16 2.29x
Headingley Cum Burley 16 5.64x
Holbeck 16 5.48x
Lewisham 16 1.98x
Marsden In Almondbury 16 39.87x
Sculcoates 16 2.29x
Stockport 16 3.16x
Stoke Upon Trent 16 1.00x
Wortley In Bramley 16 4.58x
Heckmondwike 15 10.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 354
Sarah 211
Elizabeth 175
Ann 100
Hannah 98
Martha 77
Eliza 70
Annie 69
Alice 67
Jane 67
Emma 64
Ellen 61
Margaret 56
Emily 47
Harriet 29
Clara 28
Edith 26
Fanny 26
Maria 25
Esther 24
Ada 23
Agnes 23
Louisa 18
Lucy 17
Florence 16
Catherine 14
Charlotte 14
Rebecca 14
Ruth 14
Caroline 12
Isabella 12
Nancy 12
Frances 11
Gertrude 11
Anne 10
Bertha 10
Eleanor 10
Ethel 10
Amy 9
Elizth. 9
Kate 9
Matilda 9
Betty 8
Grace 8
Harriett 8
Lizzie 8
Selina 8
Susannah 8
Amelia 7
Jessie 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 300
William 213
James 168
Thomas 138
Joseph 136
George 117
Charles 71
Alfred 57
Samuel 56
Robert 49
Henry 47
Arthur 39
Frederick 33
Fred 30
Richard 30
Albert 29
Edward 29
David 26
Herbert 24
Benjamin 22
Frank 22
Harry 21
Walter 20
Thos. 16
Ernest 14
Peter 14
Sam 12
Tom 12
Wm. 12
Edwin 11
Matthew 10
Isaac 9
Jonathan 9
Sidney 7
Chas. 6
Jabez 6
Jas. 6
Jeremiah 6
Joe 6
Vincent 6
Willie 6
Wright 6
Andrew 5
Francis 5
Joshua 5
Percy 5
Ralph 5
Saml. 5
Levi 4
Sydney 4

FAQ

Waterhouse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waterhouse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,567 people were recorded with the Waterhouse surname. That placed it at #980 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waterhouse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,456 in 2016. That gives Waterhouse a modern rank of #1,527.

What does the Waterhouse surname mean?

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a building used for storing water.

What does the Waterhouse map show?

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