Waters History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The name Waters belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in Shropshire. The name Waters indicates that the original bearer of the name lived close to a prominent body of water such as a lake or river.

"Water was the normal medieval pronunciation of Walter. Theobald Walter is also called Theobaldus filius Walteri, Theobaldus Walteri and Tebaut Water in the Feet of Fines for Lancashire 1212-1236." 1

Another reputable source has another theory about the origin of the name. "In some dialects, the word water is applied to lakes and rivers, as Ullswater, Derwent-water, Black-water. Upon the adoption of surnames by the common people, a person who resided near such a place would be called William or John Atte-Water, still retained in Attwater; but on the omission of the preposition in the XV. century, the name was pluralized to Waters. The latinizations are De Aqua and Ad Aquam." 2

And another source claims it was "a name given to one who navigated the waters, or resided near them." 3

Ralph Wader of Guader, Earl of Norfolk (fl. 1070), was "son of Ralph the Staller (d. 1066). This Ralph is frequently referred to in Domesday Book as having held various estates, and is twice mentioned as 'Radulfus comes vetus' (ii. 128b, 129), and on one other occasion as 'Radulfus Stalra' and father of Ralph Guader." 4

Early Origins of the Waters family

The surname Waters was first found in Shropshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, in Ludlow, before and after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Waterus de Cantelupo was listed in Lincolnshire in c. 1135; and later John Watter was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Warwickshire in 1214. Richard Wauter and Roger Water were found in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275 and a few years later, Hugh Water was listed in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1279. Alice Waters was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327 and John Wauters was listed in Warwickshire in 1348. 1

Early History of the Waters family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Waters research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1610, 1731, 1754, 1774, 1777, 1797, 1816, 1840, 1841, 1842 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Waters History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Waters Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Waters include Waters, Water and others.

Early Notables of the Waters family

Notables of the family at this time include

Waters World Ranking

In the United States, the name Waters is the 429th most popular surname with an estimated 64,662 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Waters is ranked the 252nd most popular surname with an estimated 13,768 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Waters is the 350th popular surname with an estimated 1,816 people with that name. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Waters as 381st with 16,725 people. 8

Migration of the Waters family to Ireland

Some of the Waters family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Waters migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Waters were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Waters Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Waters Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Waters Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Waters migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Waters Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Waters Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Waters migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Waters Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Waters migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Waters Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Waters migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 18
Waters Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Waters (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Waters +
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