Explore the Family Name Waitman
The meaning of Waitman
1. English (Middlesex and Berkshire): variant of Weetman, a patronymic from the Middle English personal name Wet(e)man, Wat(e)man (Old English Hwætmann, formed from hwæt ‘active, bold, brave’ + mann ‘man’). 2. English (Lancashire): variant of Waithman, an occupational name or status name from northern Middle English and Older Scots waithman (Old Norse veithimann, the oblique stem of veithimathr) ‘hunter; forest outlaw’. The word is attested in Scottish writings of the 15th and 16th centuries with reference to the Biblical hunter Nimrod and to the legendary outlaw Robin Hood and his men.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Waitman in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Waitman has seen a decline from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the Waitman surname ranked 44,497th in popularity and had a count of 455 occurrences. However, by 2010, its rank dropped to 63,873rd, reflecting a negative change of approximately 43.54%. The count also reduced to 312, marking a decrease of 31.43%. The proportion per 100,000 people decreased by 35.29%, falling from 0.17 to 0.11.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #44,497 | #63,873 | -43.54% |
| Count | 455 | 312 | -31.43% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.11 | -35.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Waitman
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some changes between 2000 and 2010 for those with the Waitman surname. In 2000, the majority of individuals with this surname identified as White (85.93%). However, by 2010, this percentage had declined slightly to 81.09%. Those identifying as two or more races increased from 3.30% to 4.81%. There was also an increase in those identifying as Black (from 6.37% to 7.69%) and Hispanic (from 1.76% to 2.88%). Meanwhile, the percentages of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native were suppressed for privacy in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 85.93% | 81.09% | -5.63% |
| Black | 6.37% | 7.69% | 20.72% |
| Two or More Races | 3.3% | 4.81% | 45.76% |
| Hispanic | 1.76% | 2.88% | 63.64% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.1% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.54% | 0% | 0% |