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Water Family History

Water Name Meaning

English: variant of Walter, representing the normal medieval pronunciation of the name. English and German (Rhineland): topographic name for someone who lived by a stretch of water, Middle English, Low German water. Irish: adopted as an English translation of Gaelic Ó Fuartháin (see Foran), being wrongly taken as Ó Fuaruisce ‘son of cold water’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Waters, Waser, Rater, Kater, Hayer, Cater, Easter, Watler, Vater

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Water family from?

You can see how Water families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Water family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Water families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 7 Water families living in New York. This was about 41% of all the recorded Water's in the USA. New York had the highest population of Water families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Water surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Water ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the US named Water. 27% of Water men worked as a Laborer and 13% of Water women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Water were Truck Driver and Housewife.

View Census data for Water | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations in 1940

  • Laborer
    27%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Clerk
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    5%

Top Female Occupations in 1940

  • Maid
    13%
  • Clerk
    9%
  • Cook
    8%
  • Housewife
    8%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Water family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 18,000 census records available for the last name Water. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Water census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Water

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Water. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Water immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Water. For the veterans among your Water ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Water military records

You've only scratched the surface of Water family history.

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What is the average Water lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2002, in the United States, Water life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2001, and highest in 1968. The average life expectancy for Water in 1963 was 57, and 28 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Water

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