Explore the Family Name Freshwater
The meaning of Freshwater
English: topographic name for someone who lived by a source of clear drinking water, from Middle English freis, fresche ‘fresh’ + water ‘water’ (Old French freis, of ancient Germanic origin). This may also be a habitational name from an unidentified place so called. There is a Freshwater on the Isle of Wight, though this seems not to have given rise to a surname, and the compound is also recorded as a minor placename in Dorset. However, no prepositional forms indicating a locative type have been noted among the early English bearers, and no such placename has been found in or near the counties where the surname first appears.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Freshwater in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Freshwater had a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 22,910th and by 2010, it fell slightly to 23,500th, a change of -2.58%. However, the total number of people with the surname Freshwater increased from 1,043 in 2000 to 1,081 in 2010, an increase of 3.64%. The proportion per 100k also saw a decrease from 0.39 in 2000 to 0.37 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,910 | #23,500 | -2.58% |
| Count | 1,043 | 1,081 | 3.64% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.39 | 0.37 | -5.13% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Freshwater
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Freshwater also saw some changes between 2000 and 2010 as per the Decennial U.S. Census. The percentage of individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander increased from 1.05% to 1.20%, while those identified as part of two or more races saw a significant increase from 1.15% to 2.22%. Those identifying as White had a slight decrease from 84.76% to 83.81%. The percentage of individuals identifying as Black rose marginally from 11.12% to 11.38%. Unfortunately, data for Hispanic and American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicities was suppressed in the 2010 census for privacy reasons.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 84.76% | 83.81% | -1.12% |
| Black | 11.12% | 11.38% | 2.34% |
| Two or More Races | 1.15% | 2.22% | 93.04% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.05% | 1.2% | 14.29% |
| Hispanic | 1.05% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.86% | 0% | 0% |