Explore the Family Name Water
The meaning of Water
1. English: variant of Walter, a common medieval pronunciation of which was Water. 2. English and German (Rhineland): topographic name for someone who lived by a stretch of water, Middle English and Low German water. 3. Irish: adopted as an English translation of Gaelic Ó Fuartháin (see Foran), being wrongly taken as Ó Fuaruisce, which would mean ‘son of cold water’. Some characteristic forenames: German Siegfried, Wolf.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Water in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Water" has seen a slight decline from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 50,572nd most common, but by 2010 it had dropped to the 56,310th spot, a decrease of around 11.35%. The count or number of people with this surname also fell by approximately 6.44%, from 388 in 2000 to 363 in 2010. Consequently, the proportion per 100,000 people also slipped from 0.14 to 0.12, marking a 14.29% decline.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #50,572 | #56,310 | -11.35% |
| Count | 388 | 363 | -6.44% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.12 | -14.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Water
In terms of ethnic identity, there were some noticeable shifts between 2000 and 2010 as well, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. There was no representation of Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in 2000; however, by 2010, both these groups began identifying with the "Water" surname at a rate of 2.20% and 6.06% respectively. The percentage of individuals identifying as two or more races grew slightly from 2.58% to 2.75%. The predominant ethnicity associated with the surname was White, decreasing marginally from 52.32% in 2000 to 50.69% in 2010. The Hispanic representation saw a significant increase from 2.32% to 6.06%. On the other hand, the Black community experienced a drop from 39.95% to 32.23% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 52.32% | 50.69% | -3.12% |
| Black | 39.95% | 32.23% | -19.32% |
| Hispanic | 2.32% | 6.06% | 161.21% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 6.06% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 2.58% | 2.75% | 6.59% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 2.2% | 0% |