NameCensus.

UK surname

Wates

An English surname thought to derive from an old word for ford or shallow water crossing.

In the 1881 census there were 150 people recorded with the Wates surname, ranking it #15,489 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 284, ranked #15,323, up from #15,489 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Erith, Plumstead and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Dorset, Chichester and Mole Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wates is 355 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.3%.

1881 census count

150

Ranked #15,489

Modern count

284

2016, ranked #15,323

Peak year

1861

355 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wates had 150 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,489 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016, ranked #15,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 355 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wates surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wates surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wates 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 172 #11,682
1861 historical 355 #7,198
1881 historical 150 #15,489
1891 historical 324 #10,453
1901 historical 180 #16,171
1911 historical 237 #13,406
1997 modern 266 #14,658
1998 modern 273 #14,803
1999 modern 261 #15,353
2000 modern 270 #14,943
2001 modern 245 #15,721
2002 modern 257 #15,523
2003 modern 249 #15,653
2004 modern 263 #15,189
2005 modern 266 #15,007
2006 modern 252 #15,642
2007 modern 244 #16,186
2008 modern 239 #16,583
2009 modern 247 #16,549
2010 modern 268 #15,978
2011 modern 270 #15,754
2012 modern 267 #15,791
2013 modern 284 #15,358
2014 modern 285 #15,416
2015 modern 281 #15,457
2016 modern 284 #15,323

Geography

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Where Wates' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Erith, Plumstead, London parishes, Monksilver and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Dorset, Chichester, Mole Valley, Rother and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 Erith Kent
2 Plumstead London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Monksilver Somerset
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Dorset 006 North Dorset
2 Chichester 002 Chichester
3 Mole Valley 008 Mole Valley
4 Rother 001 Rother
5 Kensington and Chelsea 010 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wates

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wates

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Wates is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wates is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Wates

The surname Wates is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place called Wath or Wath-upon-Dearne in Yorkshire. The name is derived from the Old English word "wath," meaning a ford or shallow part of a river that can be crossed on foot.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wates can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Wath." This suggests that the name had already been established by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with different spellings, such as "Wath," "Wathe," and "Wattes." These variations reflect the evolving nature of surnames and the lack of standardized spelling during that time.

One notable early bearer of the surname Wates was Sir John Wates, who was born in the late 14th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire in 1417. Another prominent figure was Thomas Wates, a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who lived in the 16th century.

The name Wates has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Wath-upon-Dearne in Yorkshire, and Wath in Staffordshire. These place names likely influenced the development and spread of the surname in different regions.

In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname Wates was Edward Wates, a British playwright and author born in 1650. His most famous work was the play "The Wary Widdower," which was performed in London in 1679.

Another significant individual with the surname Wates was Sir Henry Wates, an English businessman and philanthropist born in 1824. He founded the construction company Wates Group, which is still in operation today and is one of the largest privately-owned construction firms in the United Kingdom.

In the 20th century, the name Wates gained prominence through Sir Arnold Wates, the chairman of the Wates Group from 1943 to 1973. He was born in 1901 and played a crucial role in the company's growth and success during the post-war construction boom in Britain.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Wates, which has its roots in the Old English language and has been associated with various locations in England, particularly in Yorkshire and Staffordshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wates families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wates 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. Kent leads with 48 Wates' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.62x.

County Total Index
Kent 48 9.62x
Surrey 38 5.33x
Middlesex 22 1.50x
Yorkshire 13 0.90x
Warwickshire 8 2.17x
Lancashire 7 0.40x
Leicestershire 5 3.08x
Somerset 2 0.85x
Sussex 2 0.81x
Lincolnshire 1 0.43x
Norfolk 1 0.44x
Northumberland 1 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.51x
Shropshire 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 18 Wates' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.26x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 18 19.26x
Erith 13 264.23x
Deptford St Paul 11 28.57x
Islington London 7 4.94x
Plumstead 7 42.07x
Battersea 6 11.15x
Birmingham 6 4.88x
Lewisham 6 22.54x
Leeds 5 6.11x
Toxteth Park 5 8.50x
Chatham 4 29.13x
Leicester St Mary 4 30.51x
Bermondsey 3 6.89x
Gravesend 3 70.92x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 10.19x
Brighton 2 4.02x
Chelsea London 2 4.54x
Drax 2 1052.63x
Egham 2 45.66x
Hornsey 2 10.81x
Hunslet 2 8.85x
Manchester 2 2.56x
Middleton On Wolds 2 625.00x
Newington 2 3.70x
Paddington London 2 3.72x
Ratcliffe London 2 24.75x
St Marylebone London 2 2.56x
Warwick St Mary 2 62.50x
Woolwich 2 10.85x
Addington 1 303.03x
Beddington 1 36.23x
Berrington 1 200.00x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 20.70x
Gillingham 1 9.72x
Greetwell 1 2500.00x
Hackney London 1 1.22x
Hunstanton 1 131.58x
Kensington London 1 1.23x
Lambeth 1 0.78x
Mile End Old Town 1 4.33x
Monksilver 1 769.23x
North Shields 1 23.04x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.96x
Pocklington 1 72.99x
Sherburn 1 84.03x
St George Hanover 1 5.24x
St George Martyr 1 40.49x
Stoke St Gregory 1 138.89x
Wimbledon 1 12.50x
Wymondham 1 303.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 6
Elizabeth 6
Mary 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Martha 3
Clara 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Lilian 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Clare 1
Constance 1
Delismah 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Ester 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Kate 1
L. 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Mercy 1
Minnie 1
Miriam 1
Mrs. 1
Naomi 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1
Theodora 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Wates surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wates surname in 1881?

In 1881, 150 people were recorded with the Wates surname. That placed it at #15,489 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wates surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016. That gives Wates a modern rank of #15,323.

What does the Wates surname mean?

An English surname thought to derive from an old word for ford or shallow water crossing.

What does the Wates map show?

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