NameCensus.

UK surname

Waterman

An occupational surname referring to a person who transported water or worked on or near water.

In the 1881 census there were 2,296 people recorded with the Waterman surname, ranking it #1,946 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,765, ranked #2,429, down from #1,946 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Marden and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, South Somerset and Eastleigh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waterman is 3,200 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.4%.

1881 census count

2,296

Ranked #1,946

Modern count

2,765

2016, ranked #2,429

Peak year

1911

3,200 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waterman had 2,296 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,946 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,765 in 2016, ranked #2,429.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,200 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Waterman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waterman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waterman 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 1,565 #1,839
1861 historical 1,613 #1,766
1881 historical 2,296 #1,946
1891 historical 2,488 #1,905
1901 historical 2,832 #1,966
1911 historical 3,200 #1,624
1997 modern 3,004 #2,148
1998 modern 3,074 #2,183
1999 modern 3,032 #2,239
2000 modern 2,987 #2,254
2001 modern 2,909 #2,266
2002 modern 2,945 #2,288
2003 modern 2,836 #2,316
2004 modern 2,832 #2,327
2005 modern 2,767 #2,349
2006 modern 2,778 #2,335
2007 modern 2,797 #2,338
2008 modern 2,801 #2,355
2009 modern 2,844 #2,375
2010 modern 2,889 #2,387
2011 modern 2,872 #2,367
2012 modern 2,811 #2,378
2013 modern 2,849 #2,388
2014 modern 2,844 #2,399
2015 modern 2,810 #2,407
2016 modern 2,765 #2,429

Geography

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Where Watermans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Marden, St John Hackney and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, South Somerset, Eastleigh, New Forest and East Hertfordshire. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Marden Kent
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 003 Purbeck
2 South Somerset 010 South Somerset
3 Eastleigh 013 Eastleigh
4 New Forest 001 New Forest
5 East Hertfordshire 008 East Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waterman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waterman

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Waterman 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

Waterman 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

Waterman falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Waterman

The surname WATERMAN is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is an occupational surname derived from the Old English words "wæter" meaning water and "mann" meaning man, referring to someone who worked on or around water, such as a ferryman, boatman, or bargeman.

The name was particularly common in areas near rivers, lakes, or coastal regions where water transportation and related occupations were prevalent. Early records from the 13th and 14th centuries show variations in spelling, including Waterman, Watirman, and Watyrman.

One of the earliest known references to the name WATERMAN can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a Thomas Waterman. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 also record a John le Waterman.

In the 14th century, the surname WATERMAN appeared in the Chancery Proceedings from London, suggesting its presence in the capital city. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire from 1332 list a Willelmus Waterman.

Notable individuals with the surname WATERMAN throughout history include:

1. Robert Waterman (c. 1492-1555), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions. 2. Thomas Waterman (c. 1545-1622), an English clergyman and one of the earliest settlers of Rhode Island, arriving in 1638. 3. Thomas Waterman (1720-1796), an American surveyor and soldier from Connecticut who served in the American Revolutionary War. 4. Arrah Wanna Waterman (1778-1861), a Native American woman from the Mohegan tribe, known for her basket weaving and storytelling. 5. Robert Whitney Waterman (1826-1891), an American businessman and military officer who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the surname WATERMAN, reflecting its longstanding presence in various parts of England and later, the American colonies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waterman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waterman 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. Middlesex leads with 418 Watermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.84x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 418 1.84x
Kent 405 5.23x
Hampshire 369 7.93x
Surrey 218 1.97x
Essex 181 4.04x
Somerset 141 3.86x
Hertfordshire 72 4.60x
Sussex 70 1.83x
Dorset 56 3.76x
Yorkshire 51 0.23x
Suffolk 43 1.56x
Devon 35 0.74x
Lancashire 31 0.12x
Channel Islands 27 4.02x
Durham 25 0.37x
Gloucestershire 25 0.56x
Wiltshire 25 1.25x
Berkshire 24 1.41x
Lincolnshire 20 0.55x
Cornwall 11 0.43x
Glamorgan 9 0.23x
Oxfordshire 9 0.64x
Northumberland 8 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.51x
Staffordshire 7 0.09x
Worcestershire 7 0.24x
Norfolk 5 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.13x
Bedfordshire 3 0.26x
Leicestershire 3 0.12x
Royal Navy 3 1.11x
Warwickshire 3 0.05x
Cheshire 2 0.04x
Shropshire 2 0.10x
Derbyshire 1 0.03x
Herefordshire 1 0.11x
Isle of Man 1 0.24x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Orkney 1 0.40x
Rutland 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 51 Watermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.32x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 51 2.32x
Croydon 50 8.15x
Portsea 48 5.27x
Southampton St Mary 46 15.73x
St Pancras London 38 2.08x
Tonbridge 35 12.53x
Camberwell 34 2.35x
Kensington London 34 2.70x
Marden 31 170.80x
St Marylebone London 31 2.56x
Hackney London 28 2.20x
Walthamstow 27 16.75x
St Peter Port 26 20.90x
Aylesford 25 116.55x
Bishop Stortford 24 45.94x
Lambeth 24 1.21x
Rockbourne 24 677.97x
Bethnal Green London 23 2.33x
Brighton 23 2.98x
Northfleet 23 33.72x
Breamore 22 500.00x
Watford 22 18.14x
Spaxton 21 295.36x
Shoreditch London 19 1.93x
Battersea 18 2.16x
Ringwood 18 60.50x
Spitalfields London 18 10.55x
Brockenhurst 17 211.44x
Hammersmith London 17 3.04x
West Ham 17 1.72x
Romsey Infra 16 101.52x
Wiveliscombe 16 78.59x
Yalding 16 81.84x
Fawley 14 94.92x
Reading St Mary 14 10.26x
East Tytherley 13 442.18x
Fordingbridge 13 51.40x
Harlow 13 67.36x
Penge 13 8.97x
Weston Super Mare 13 14.10x
East Mersea 12 547.95x
Fisherton Anger 12 32.31x
Lymington 12 35.11x
Streatham 12 7.13x
Long Ashton 11 60.74x
Prittlewell 11 17.72x
Thorley 11 338.46x
Walcot 11 5.65x
Woking 11 16.51x
Ashford 10 13.26x
Bermondsey 10 1.48x
Cranbrook 10 30.50x
Newton In Makerfield 10 12.13x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 10 12.45x
Paddington London 10 1.20x
St George In East 10 6.48x
St Thomas Winchester 10 30.45x
Chelsea London 9 1.32x
Clerkenwell London 9 1.68x
Deptford St Paul 9 1.51x
Ditton 9 344.83x
Ealing 9 4.44x
Fobbing 9 271.08x
Hornsey 9 3.14x
Linton 9 132.55x
Maidstone 9 3.90x
Maker 9 37.93x
Milton In Gravesend 9 7.75x
Rochester St Margaret 9 11.02x
Shorne 9 131.39x
Southampton All Sts 9 11.28x
Springfield 9 45.85x
St George Hanover 9 3.04x
St Mary Cray 9 60.81x
Tarrant Rushton 9 681.82x
Upper Clatford 9 156.52x
Chigwell 8 18.93x
Stogumber 8 82.90x
Sutton St Mary 8 23.32x
Worth Matravers 8 331.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 105
Elizabeth 81
Sarah 75
Eliza 47
Alice 42
Ellen 42
Ann 40
Jane 40
Annie 39
Emily 38
Emma 35
Louisa 24
Caroline 23
Kate 20
Harriet 18
Maria 18
Fanny 15
Susan 14
Anne 13
Edith 13
Hannah 13
Ada 12
Florence 12
Lucy 12
Clara 11
Rose 11
Amy 10
Catherine 10
Charlotte 10
Margaret 10
Martha 9
Rebecca 9
Frances 8
Isabella 8
Amelia 7
Bessie 7
Harriett 7
Jessie 7
Sophia 7
Lydia 6
Minnie 6
Rhoda 6
Adelaide 5
Agnes 5
Grace 5
Julia 5
Mabel 5
Gertrude 4
Rosa 4
Ruth 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 155
John 111
George 92
James 81
Thomas 58
Charles 56
Henry 42
Alfred 41
Arthur 32
Frederick 32
Robert 28
Walter 28
Edward 27
Albert 19
Frank 18
Harry 16
Joseph 15
Richard 14
Ernest 13
Samuel 12
Edwin 10
Stephen 10
David 9
Herbert 9
Daniel 8
Edmund 7
Isaac 6
Wm. 6
Benjamin 5
Geo. 5
Harold 5
Sydney 5
Chas. 4
Francis 4
Sidney 4
Thos. 4
Lewis 3
Luke 3
Orlando 3
Percy 3
Wilfred 3
Willm. 3
Bertie 2
Christmas 2
Christopher 2
Louis 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Oliver 2

FAQ

Waterman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waterman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,296 people were recorded with the Waterman surname. That placed it at #1,946 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waterman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,765 in 2016. That gives Waterman a modern rank of #2,429.

What does the Waterman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who transported water or worked on or near water.

What does the Waterman map show?

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