NameCensus.

UK surname

Wayte

An English habitational surname derived from place names containing the Old English word "wat" meaning "wet" or "watery."

In the 1881 census there were 292 people recorded with the Wayte surname, ranking it #9,912 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 326, ranked #13,896, down from #9,912 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Leicester and Nuneaton and Bedworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wayte is 375 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.6%.

1881 census count

292

Ranked #9,912

Modern count

326

2016, ranked #13,896

Peak year

2002

375 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wayte had 292 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,912 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016, ranked #13,896.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 364 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wayte surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wayte surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wayte 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 257 #8,596
1861 historical 167 #13,956
1881 historical 292 #9,912
1891 historical 285 #11,515
1901 historical 348 #10,484
1911 historical 364 #9,985
1997 modern 342 #12,379
1998 modern 367 #12,121
1999 modern 366 #12,225
2000 modern 371 #12,052
2001 modern 364 #12,033
2002 modern 375 #12,018
2003 modern 352 #12,365
2004 modern 335 #12,870
2005 modern 322 #13,175
2006 modern 326 #13,128
2007 modern 333 #13,062
2008 modern 328 #13,319
2009 modern 325 #13,657
2010 modern 344 #13,393
2011 modern 326 #13,775
2012 modern 323 #13,780
2013 modern 325 #13,924
2014 modern 324 #14,058
2015 modern 323 #13,991
2016 modern 326 #13,896

Geography

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Where Waytes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Gateshead and Wickmere. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Leicester, Nuneaton and Bedworth and North Norfolk. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Wickmere Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 049 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 052 Kirklees
3 Leicester 035 Leicester
4 Nuneaton and Bedworth 012 Nuneaton and Bedworth
5 North Norfolk 005 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wayte

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wayte

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Wayte 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

Wayte is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Wayte

The surname "WAYTE" is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old English word "waitan," which means "to watch" or "to guard." It was initially an occupational name given to watchmen, sentries, or gatekeepers.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the earliest recorded version of the name was spelled as "Waite." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provided a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname "WAYTE" appeared in various records and manuscripts. One notable example is John le Wayte, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. Another early record is that of Walter le Wayte, who was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

The name "WAYTE" has also been associated with place names, such as Wayte's Court in Gloucestershire and Wayte's Farm in Berkshire. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the surname "WAYTE" who resided or owned property there.

Among the notable historical figures with the surname "WAYTE," one can mention:

1. Sir Thomas Wayte (c. 1480 - c. 1542), an English soldier and courtier who served under King Henry VIII. 2. John Wayte (c. 1550 - 1616), an English composer and organist who was a member of the Chapel Royal during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 3. Henry Wayte (1610 - 1668), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Thetford during the English Civil War. 4. Robert Wayte (1657 - 1738), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. 5. William Wayte (1789 - 1862), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London.

The surname "WAYTE" has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Waite, Waight, Watt, and Watte. These variations reflect regional dialects and the evolution of language over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wayte families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wayte 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. Staffordshire leads with 50 Waytes recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.20x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 50 5.20x
Norfolk 38 8.68x
Oxfordshire 32 18.19x
Surrey 31 2.23x
Middlesex 23 0.81x
Nottinghamshire 21 5.47x
Leicestershire 20 6.33x
Warwickshire 19 2.65x
Durham 8 0.94x
Derbyshire 7 1.57x
Glamorgan 7 1.41x
Kent 6 0.62x
Renfrewshire 5 2.27x
Gloucestershire 4 0.72x
Lancashire 4 0.12x
Somerset 4 0.87x
Essex 3 0.53x
Monmouthshire 2 0.97x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.58x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.55x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Hampshire 1 0.17x
Northamptonshire 1 0.37x
Perthshire 1 0.78x
Wiltshire 1 0.40x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wickmere in Norfolk leads with 24 Waytes recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Wickmere 24 10000.00x
Filkins 18 3157.89x
Stoke Upon Trent 17 16.67x
Burton Upon Trent 15 66.70x
Burton Extra 13 235.93x
Camberwell 10 5.50x
Aston 9 4.55x
Hammersmith London 9 12.83x
Wells Next Sea 9 352.94x
Kensington London 8 5.05x
Cropredy 7 1320.75x
Hucknall Torkard 7 71.87x
Lambeth 7 2.82x
Broughton Poggs 6 4285.71x
Lenton 6 66.37x
Arnold 5 89.29x
Bermondsey 5 5.90x
Coleshill 5 217.39x
Epsom 5 73.96x
Fazeley 5 285.71x
Thringstone 5 413.22x
West Greenock 5 12.62x
Whitwick 5 124.38x
Gateshead 4 6.30x
Harton 4 119.40x
Llanvedw 4 1333.33x
Acrise 3 1428.57x
Attleborough 3 135.75x
Leamington Priors 3 16.98x
Llantrisant 3 24.00x
Nottingham St Mary 3 3.02x
Osbaston 3 1428.57x
St Marylebone London 3 1.97x
Stapenhill 3 45.18x
West Ham 3 2.42x
Ashby De La Zouch 2 27.32x
Bathwick 2 39.45x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 10.74x
Clifton 2 7.08x
Dunster 2 181.82x
Hulme 2 2.83x
Ibstock 2 86.96x
Leicester St Margaret 2 2.60x
Michaelstone Y Vedw 2 1000.00x
Southwark Christchurch 2 14.98x
St Pancras London 2 0.87x
Willington 2 400.00x
Bolehall Glascote 1 32.89x
Bromley 1 6.75x
Broughton In Salford 1 3.24x
Calne 1 19.27x
Chester St Martin 1 100.00x
Derby St Werburgh 1 3.88x
Great Snoring 1 217.39x
Greenwich 1 2.21x
Itteringham 1 322.58x
Liverpool 1 0.49x
Lymington 1 23.31x
Moulin 1 49.51x
Neithrop 1 16.92x
Newport Pagnell 1 27.78x
Nuneaton 1 12.02x
Repton 1 59.17x
Rochester St Margaret 1 9.76x
Rotherhithe 1 2.84x
Rushden 1 27.93x
Sheffield 1 1.11x
St Michael Cambridge 1 188.68x
Willesden 1 3.72x
Wimbledon 1 6.42x
Woodhouse 1 79.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 10
Ann 8
Ellen 6
Emma 5
Frances 5
Edith 4
Maria 4
Alice 3
Clara 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Adelaide 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Jane 2
Katherine 2
Martha 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Amelia 1
Charlotte 1
Christiana 1
Edieth 1
Elizbeth 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Georgeanna 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Jemima 1
John 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
John 15
George 8
Henry 8
Thomas 8
Charles 7
Alfred 6
James 6
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Francis 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Benjamin 3
Frank 3
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Joseph 2
Nicholas 2
Richard 2
Adolphus 1
Adrian 1
Albert 1
Allen 1
Alleric 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Ed. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Ivor 1
Margaret 1
Raymond 1
Risney 1
Sam 1
Stuart 1
Walter 1
Warter 1

FAQ

Wayte surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wayte surname in 1881?

In 1881, 292 people were recorded with the Wayte surname. That placed it at #9,912 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wayte surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016. That gives Wayte a modern rank of #13,896.

What does the Wayte surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from place names containing the Old English word "wat" meaning "wet" or "watery."

What does the Wayte map show?

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