NameCensus.

UK surname

Waterson

A locational surname derived from an English place name meaning "Dweller by the water's town."

In the 1881 census there were 1,225 people recorded with the Waterson surname, ranking it #3,307 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,457, ranked #4,225, down from #3,307 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Stockton-on-Tees and Pollok North and East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waterson is 1,575 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.9%.

1881 census count

1,225

Ranked #3,307

Modern count

1,457

2016, ranked #4,225

Peak year

1998

1,575 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waterson had 1,225 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,307 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,457 in 2016, ranked #4,225.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,525 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Waterson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waterson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waterson 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 691 #3,770
1861 historical 952 #2,911
1881 historical 1,225 #3,307
1891 historical 1,382 #3,144
1901 historical 1,525 #3,377
1911 historical 1,237 #3,823
1997 modern 1,534 #3,835
1998 modern 1,575 #3,886
1999 modern 1,572 #3,921
2000 modern 1,532 #3,994
2001 modern 1,494 #3,996
2002 modern 1,509 #4,050
2003 modern 1,454 #4,101
2004 modern 1,437 #4,138
2005 modern 1,449 #4,074
2006 modern 1,467 #4,042
2007 modern 1,460 #4,094
2008 modern 1,467 #4,100
2009 modern 1,510 #4,093
2010 modern 1,484 #4,220
2011 modern 1,460 #4,224
2012 modern 1,443 #4,206
2013 modern 1,456 #4,236
2014 modern 1,488 #4,197
2015 modern 1,461 #4,230
2016 modern 1,457 #4,225

Geography

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Where Watersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, London parishes, Toxteth Park, Edinburgh and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Stockton-on-Tees, Pollok North and East, North Tyneside and Lochgelly East. 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 Darlington Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 042 Wakefield
2 Stockton-on-Tees 005 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Pollok North and East Glasgow City
4 North Tyneside 026 North Tyneside
5 Lochgelly East Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waterson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waterson

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Waterson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Waterson is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Waterson

The surname Waterson is of English origin and is derived from the Old English words "waeter" meaning water and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, essentially translating to "a settlement by the water". It is thought to have originated as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a body of water such as a river, lake or stream.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Waterson dates back to the late 12th century in the county of Gloucestershire, where it appeared as "Waterton" in the Pipe Rolls of 1196. This suggests that the name likely originated in this region, possibly in a place called Waterton, which may have been a settlement located near a body of water.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several entries for places with similar names, such as "Watrefeld" in Hertfordshire and "Watrevile" in Norfolk, indicating that the name may have had multiple local origins across different parts of England.

Throughout the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Waterton, Watertoun, Watertown, and Waterson. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert Waterton (1349-1425), an English military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was knighted for his service.

Another significant figure was John Waterson (c. 1515-1584), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the Protestant Reformation for refusing to renounce his faith. He is considered a saint by the Catholic Church.

Other notable individuals with the surname Waterson include:

1. Henry Waterton (1789-1861), an English naturalist and explorer, best known for his writings on natural history and his travels in South America. 2. Edmund Waterton (1811-1887), an English Catholic priest and writer, known for his works on theology and apologetics. 3. Charles Waterson (1854-1923), an English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century. 4. Nell Waterson (1867-1942), an English actress and singer, who performed in various theatrical productions in London's West End. 5. Henry Watterson (1840-1921), an American journalist and politician, who served as the editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal and was a prominent voice in the Democratic Party.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waterson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waterson 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. Lancashire leads with 231 Watersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.59x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 231 1.59x
Norfolk 170 9.04x
Yorkshire 141 1.16x
Middlesex 111 0.91x
Durham 91 2.50x
Lanarkshire 72 1.82x
Northumberland 44 2.42x
Midlothian 36 2.20x
Isle of Man 30 13.21x
Warwickshire 30 0.97x
Cumberland 25 2.37x
Fife 24 3.31x
Staffordshire 23 0.56x
Angus 22 1.94x
Cheshire 22 0.81x
Worcestershire 21 1.31x
Kent 16 0.38x
Perthshire 15 2.73x
Surrey 14 0.23x
Leicestershire 13 0.96x
Renfrewshire 13 1.37x
Cambridgeshire 12 1.55x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.61x
Devon 9 0.35x
Ayrshire 7 0.76x
Northamptonshire 5 0.43x
Stirlingshire 5 1.11x
Wigtownshire 5 3.08x
Wiltshire 5 0.46x
Cornwall 4 0.29x
Shropshire 4 0.38x
Argyllshire 3 0.88x
Berwickshire 2 1.35x
Derbyshire 2 0.10x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.61x
Hertfordshire 2 0.24x
Inverness-shire 2 0.55x
Suffolk 2 0.13x
Anglesey 1 0.46x
Bedfordshire 1 0.16x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.37x
Essex 1 0.04x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Morayshire 1 0.53x
Oxfordshire 1 0.13x
Roxburghshire 1 0.45x
Rutland 1 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 37 Watersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.20x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 37 4.20x
Darlington 35 24.91x
Aston 26 3.06x
Barony 23 2.30x
Kirkdale 23 9.42x
West Derby 23 5.42x
Everton 22 4.76x
Glasgow 20 2.85x
East Ruston 18 645.16x
Toxteth Park 18 3.66x
Govan 17 1.74x
Barnsley 15 12.00x
Onchan 15 22.93x
Poplar London 15 6.50x
Bishopwearmouth 14 4.48x
North Walsham 14 103.24x
Sutton 14 886.08x
Beath 13 56.82x
Lewisham 13 5.84x
Barrow In Furness 12 6.08x
Hackney London 12 1.75x
Salford 12 2.81x
Batley 11 9.55x
Clerkenwell London 11 3.81x
Gateshead 11 4.04x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 11 90.09x
Ecclesall Bierlow 10 4.06x
Pendleton In Salford 10 5.78x
Perth Middle Church 10 48.43x
Cleator 9 20.53x
Dalkeith 9 27.84x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 9 78.67x
Paddington London 9 2.00x
Sculcoates 9 4.68x
St Pancras London 9 0.91x
Wroxham 9 566.04x
Blofield 8 167.01x
Brechin 8 17.96x
Bugthorpe 8 800.00x
Idle 8 14.23x
Liff Benvie 8 4.65x
Scarborough 8 7.26x
St George In East 8 9.61x
Asfordby 7 309.73x
Bishop Auckland 7 14.34x
Bramley In Bramley 7 15.09x
Brumstead 7 1272.73x
Corsenside 7 245.61x
Elswick 7 4.82x
Hindolveston 7 254.55x
Horninglow 7 35.99x
Morpeth 7 32.71x
Newington 7 1.55x
St Giles Cambridge 7 69.93x
Tudhoe 7 21.98x
Walsall Foreign 7 3.28x
Aylmerton 6 468.75x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.13x
Birkenhead 6 2.79x
Burton Upon Trent 6 6.21x
Chivelstone 6 337.08x
Eastwood 6 10.28x
Liscard 6 12.33x
Little Lever 6 32.33x
Penrith 6 15.42x
Prescot 6 22.86x
St Sepulchre London 6 33.50x
Worcester St Andrew 6 111.11x
Bedlington 5 8.23x
Beith 5 18.30x
Braddan 5 40.29x
Bromley London 5 1.86x
Dudley 5 2.57x
Hampstead London 5 2.62x
Lasswade 5 13.34x
Manchester 5 0.77x
Millom 5 15.49x
Monifieth 5 12.49x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 5 20.89x
Ryhope 5 19.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 69
Elizabeth 62
Sarah 35
Jane 29
Ann 19
Eliza 18
Margaret 17
Annie 16
Emily 15
Catherine 14
Hannah 13
Emma 12
Ellen 11
Alice 10
Louisa 9
Harriet 8
Anna 6
Edith 6
Rebecca 6
Anne 5
Lucy 5
Maria 5
Minnie 5
Eleanor 4
Isabella 4
Martha 4
May 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Esther 3
Kate 3
Maud 3
Selina 3
Agnes 2
Carry 2
Christina 2
Clara 2
Elisabeth 2
Eliz. 2
Frances 2
Helen 2
Lilly 2
Lois 2
Margret 2
Matilda 2
Rachel 2
Ruth 2
Zillah 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 69
William 49
James 45
Thomas 34
George 29
Henry 26
Robert 25
Joseph 19
Edward 16
Charles 13
Richard 12
Arthur 10
Samuel 10
Frederick 9
Walter 8
Patrick 7
Albert 6
Harry 6
Herbert 6
Francis 5
Hugh 5
Alfred 4
Thos. 4
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Geo. 3
Mark 3
Michael 3
Robt. 3
Wm. 3
Andrew 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Fredrick 2
Job 2
Luke 2
Matthew 2
Nicholas 2
Alexandr 1
Archibald 1
Bartholomew 1
Ebenezer 1
Eli 1
Fred 1
Jeremiah 1
Louis 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Waterson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waterson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,225 people were recorded with the Waterson surname. That placed it at #3,307 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waterson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,457 in 2016. That gives Waterson a modern rank of #4,225.

What does the Waterson surname mean?

A locational surname derived from an English place name meaning "Dweller by the water's town."

What does the Waterson map show?

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