Surname Waites - Meaning and Origin

Waites: What does the surname Waites mean?

The last name Waites is of English origin and has a historical significance associated with a specific role in the medieval period. Derived from the Old French word 'waite', it literally means ‘watchman’ or ‘guard’. This name was typically given to a group of watchmen functioning in the towns and cities of Medieval England. Their duties involved keeping guard at the city gates during nights, sounding horns to mark the hours, and also alerting townsfolk of possible dangers. These watchmen were known to play wind instruments to signal the coming of a royal or important visitors. Over time, besides their watchman duties, they became more involved in civic ceremonies, public processions, and musical entertainment for the aristocracy, leading to the formation of exclusive guilds of watchmen-musicians. Thus, the surname Waites may indicate an ancestral connection to these individuals from the medieval period.

Waites: Where does the name Waites come from?

The last name Waites is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. According to the 1990 data from the National Trust, Waites is the 20,865th most common surname in Britain.

In terms of its geographic distribution, the majority of people with the last name Waites live in England, where it is the 11th most common surname, with an estimated 2,500 people bearing the last name. Waites is particularly common in the East Midlands region of central England, especially in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Outside of the United Kingdom, Waites is a fairly rare name. It is marginally more common in the United States, where it ranks 27,681st in terms of frequency. It is most commonly found in the southern states of North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Waites is also found in small numbers in Canada and Australia, as well as more common in New Zealand and South Africa. In both countries, Waites is one of the rarest surnames.

Given its rarity around the world, it is most likely that people with the surname Waites in the United Kingdom are direct descendants of the same family. It is not known when the name first originated, but it is at least two centuries old. There is a strong chance that people with the last name Waites are somehow related to each other, despite living many miles away.

Variations of the surname Waites

The surname Waites has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Waites is an English and German surname stemming from the Old English word "waet", meaning "wet". The surname Waites can be seen in both its original English spelling as well as the German spelling which is Waitz. Variations of the surname include Wait, Waite, Waite, Waits, Weight, Waitson, Watt, and Watts.

In terms of variants and variants of the same origin, Wait, Weight, Watts, and Waite are the most popular. Wait is the most common spelling of the surname Waites. Wait is derived from the Old English word “waet”, meaning “wet”. Weight is thought to be of a similar origin and derives from the Old English word “weht”, meaning “to be placed”. Watts is a variant of Weight and is also derived from the Old English word “weht”, meaning “to be placed”. Waite is derived from the Old Norse word “vaet”, meaning “to travel”.

Surnames of the same origin as Waites include Waite, Waitz, Wait, Weight, Watts, Waitson, Watt, and Weights. Waite is derived from the Old English word “waet”, meaning “wet”. Waitz is the German variant of Waite and is derived from the Old High German word “weitz”, meaning “fine”. Wait is an English variant of Waite and is derived from the Old English word “waet”, meaning “wet”. Weight is derived from the Old English word “weht”, meaning “to be placed”. Watts is a variant of Weight and is also derived from the Old English word “weht”, meaning “to be placed”. Waitson is thought to be a patronymic surname derived from a variant of Waite. Watt is thought to be an occupational surname, derived from the Old English word “wegth”, meaning “worker”. Weights is a variation of the surname Weight, derived from the Old English word “weht”, meaning “to be placed”.

Famous people with the name Waites

• Samuel Waites: Actor, known for roles in films like Book of Blood and V for Vendetta
• Stephen Waites: Former professional rugby union player
• Jeff Waites: Former NHL ice hockey player
• Jonathan Waites: Singer-songwriter
• Grant Waites: Former Major League Baseball player
• Zac Waites: Musician and composer
• Elliot Waites: Actor
• David Waites: Musician, songwriter, and producer
• Louise Waites: Author and editor
• Charles Waites: Playwright and librettist
• Adam Waites: Professional banjo player and vocalist
• Carl Waites: Former Jamaican middle-distance runner
• Mandy Waites: Retired javelin thrower
• Michael Waites: Professional footballer
• Jake Waites: Singer-songwriter
• Charles Waites: Professor of Classical Studies at Harvard University
• Moses Waites: Former American professional basketball coach
• David Waites: Former tennis player, representing Great Britain in Davis Cup competitions
• Terry Waites: Former British Army Officer
• Laurence Waites: British lawyer and Conservative Member of Parliament

Other surnames

Waite