NameCensus.

UK surname

Waterton

A locational surname derived from a place named for the 'ton' meaning settlement near water.

In the 1881 census there were 453 people recorded with the Waterton surname, ranking it #7,289 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 483, ranked #10,240, down from #7,289 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Pontefract and Ivinghoe, Cheddington, Slapton, Pitstone (Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire), Eddlesborough, Little Gadde. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bexley, Wakefield and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waterton is 630 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.6%.

1881 census count

453

Ranked #7,289

Modern count

483

2016, ranked #10,240

Peak year

1911

630 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waterton had 453 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,289 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 483 in 2016, ranked #10,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 630 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Waterton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waterton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waterton 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 222 #9,597
1861 historical 297 #8,508
1881 historical 453 #7,289
1891 historical 490 #7,550
1901 historical 540 #7,620
1911 historical 630 #6,588
1997 modern 498 #9,324
1998 modern 491 #9,737
1999 modern 497 #9,698
2000 modern 495 #9,707
2001 modern 491 #9,604
2002 modern 491 #9,752
2003 modern 487 #9,677
2004 modern 495 #9,573
2005 modern 476 #9,783
2006 modern 463 #10,015
2007 modern 460 #10,169
2008 modern 459 #10,265
2009 modern 485 #10,090
2010 modern 494 #10,144
2011 modern 502 #9,923
2012 modern 488 #10,049
2013 modern 507 #9,917
2014 modern 510 #9,945
2015 modern 495 #10,070
2016 modern 483 #10,240

Geography

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Where Watertons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Pontefract, Ivinghoe, Cheddington, Slapton, Pitstone (Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire), Eddlesborough, Little Gadde, Aldbury and North Church or Berkhamstead St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bexley, Wakefield, East Riding of Yorkshire, Wycombe and Sevenoaks. 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 3
2 Pontefract Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Ivinghoe, Cheddington, Slapton, Pitstone (Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire), Eddlesborough, Little Gadde Bedfordshire
4 Aldbury Hertfordshire
5 North Church or Berkhamstead St Mary Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bexley 028 Bexley
2 Wakefield 015 Wakefield
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 032 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Wycombe 003 Wycombe
5 Sevenoaks 003 Sevenoaks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waterton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waterton

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

Waterton 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

Waterton falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Waterton

The surname Waterton is of English origin and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from a place called Waterton, which means "the farm or village by the water." The name is found in various areas across England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Lincolnshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Waterton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Watretone." This reference suggests that the name was well-established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the Middle Ages, the Waterton family held lands and properties in various parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire. One notable figure from this period was Sir Robert Waterton, who lived in the late 13th century and served as a Knight of the Shire for Yorkshire.

In the 16th century, Charles Waterton (1482-1551) was a prominent English clergyman and academic. He served as the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and was also the Dean of York.

Another notable individual with the surname Waterton was Charles Waterton (1782-1865), a celebrated English naturalist and explorer. He is best known for his travels in South America and his efforts to preserve the natural habitat of the Walton Hall estate in Yorkshire.

Edmund Waterton (1808-1887) was a British Catholic priest and author. He wrote several books on religious topics and served as the chaplain to the Duke of Norfolk.

Charles Waterton (1904-1969) was a British actor and film director. He appeared in several notable films, including "The Winslow Boy" and "The Horse's Mouth."

The Waterton surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Waterton in Yorkshire, Waterton in Lincolnshire, and Waterton Park in West Yorkshire. These places likely derived their names from the same linguistic roots as the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waterton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waterton 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 161 Watertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.72x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 161 3.72x
Hertfordshire 144 47.81x
Buckinghamshire 30 11.36x
Middlesex 19 0.43x
Kent 14 0.94x
Lancashire 13 0.25x
Norfolk 13 1.93x
Warwickshire 12 1.09x
Surrey 11 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.19x
Leicestershire 6 1.24x
Suffolk 5 0.94x
Lincolnshire 4 0.57x
Bedfordshire 2 0.88x
Hampshire 2 0.22x
Renfrewshire 2 0.59x
Devon 1 0.11x
Durham 1 0.08x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Berkhampstead in Hertfordshire leads with 58 Watertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 856.72x.

Place Total Index
Berkhampstead 58 856.72x
Pontefract 41 439.44x
Northchurch 28 869.57x
Hunslet 19 28.14x
Abbots Langley 16 357.94x
Barnsley 15 33.58x
Aldbury 12 882.35x
Ivinghoe 11 533.98x
Birmingham 10 2.72x
Doncaster 9 28.45x
Hemel Hempstead 9 66.32x
Shipley 9 40.05x
Great Houghton 8 1481.48x
Norwich St Clement 8 102.70x
South Kirkby 8 842.11x
Tring 8 99.50x
Chesham 7 71.87x
Deptford St Paul 7 6.09x
Leeds 7 2.86x
New Malton 7 135.14x
Bovingdon 6 379.75x
Brightside Bierlow 6 7.06x
Bromley 6 26.40x
Carlton 6 89.29x
Pendleton In Salford 6 9.71x
Shoreditch London 6 3.17x
Watford 6 25.70x
Lowestoft 5 19.89x
Pitstone 5 704.23x
Tanshelf 5 144.51x
Billesdon 4 317.46x
Guildford St Nicholas 4 106.38x
Hoyland Nether 4 37.66x
Islington London 4 0.94x
St Luke London 4 5.71x
Wandsworth 4 9.51x
Worsbrough 4 31.52x
Acton 3 11.71x
Chalfont St Peter 3 137.61x
Deeping St James 3 121.46x
Fenny Stratford 3 120.00x
Horton In Bradford 3 4.44x
Windle 3 10.28x
Brierley 2 273.97x
Bury 2 3.38x
Crowle 2 47.06x
Hainford 2 212.77x
Luton 2 5.11x
Meriden 2 160.00x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 2 12.93x
Paisley Middle Church 2 10.14x
Pollington 2 344.83x
Addingham 1 30.86x
Aighton Bailey 1 40.00x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 2.48x
Baildon 1 12.27x
Batley 1 2.43x
Belton 1 35.21x
Camberwell 1 0.36x
Crook Billy Row 1 6.01x
Erith 1 6.81x
Glen Parva 1 87.72x
Hartley Wintney 1 37.17x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 3.59x
Ingestre 1 476.19x
Kensington London 1 0.41x
Kimberworth 1 4.16x
Leicester St Margaret 1 0.85x
Moss Side 1 3.66x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.66x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.43x
Portsea 1 0.57x
Ranworth 1 222.22x
Rotherhithe 1 1.85x
Salhouse 1 106.38x
South Walsham St Mary 1 181.82x
St Pancras London 1 0.28x
West Clayton 1 46.51x
Wimbledon 1 4.18x
Wing 1 40.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 31
John 19
George 16
Thomas 15
Arthur 10
Charles 10
Alfred 9
Edwin 9
James 9
Joseph 9
Walter 7
Henry 6
Frederick 5
Frank 4
Mark 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Harry 3
Amos 2
Edmund 2
Edward 2
Herbert 2
Jonathan 2
Joshua 2
Richard 2
Squire 2
Wm. 2
Bill 1
Clement 1
Cornelious 1
D.S. 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
G.S. 1
Geo. 1
J.Thomas 1
Jabes 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Joe 1
Luke 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
W. 1

FAQ

Waterton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waterton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 453 people were recorded with the Waterton surname. That placed it at #7,289 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waterton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 483 in 2016. That gives Waterton a modern rank of #10,240.

What does the Waterton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named for the 'ton' meaning settlement near water.

What does the Waterton map show?

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