Waters is a

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

, derived from "Wat", or "Wa'ter", an old pronunciation of Gaultier or Walter, and similarly derived from the surname Watson ("Wat's son"). The name is common from an early date in Wales and Yorkshire, as well as

Shropshire Shropshire (; alternatively Salop; abbreviated in print only as Shrops; demonym Salopian ) is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to th ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. P. H. Reaney, co author of the book ''A Dictionary of English Surnames'', said “water was the normal medieval pronunciation of Walter. Theobald Walter is also called Theobaldus filius Walteri, Theobaldus Walteri and Tebaut Water in the Feet of Fines for

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...

1212-1236.”

Statistics

In the

United States of America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

, Waters is the 429th most common surname, with an estimated 64,662 people. In

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

, Waters is the 350th most common surname, with an estimated 1,816 people. However, Waters is the 252nd most popular surname in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

with an estimated 13,768 people, while the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

ranks Waters as the 381st most popular surname, with 16,725 people.

People surnamed Waters

Military people

Anna May Waters Anna May Waters, ARRC (21 January 1903 – 8 December 1987) was a Canadian nurse who served in World War II. Taken as a prisoner of war during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, she remained in captivity for fourteen months. Upon her release, ...

(1903–1987), Canadian military nurse *

Daniel Waters (Minutemen) Daniel Waters (June 20, 1731 – March 26, 1816) was an officer in the Continental Navy and in the United States Navy. Biography He was born on June 20, 1731, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and was one of the "minutemen" who engaged the British at ...

(1731–1816), officer in the United States Navy. * John K. Waters (1906–1989), former U.S.

general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

prisoner of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of wa ...

, and son-in-law of

George S. Patton George Smith Patton Jr. (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) was a general in the United States Army who commanded the Seventh United States Army in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II, and the Third United States Army in France ...

* Terence Edward Waters (1929–1951), British soldier awarded the George Cross

Performers

Crystal Waters Crystal Waters (born November 19, 1961) is an American house and dance music singer and songwriter, best known for her 1990s dance hits " Gypsy Woman", " 100% Pure Love", and 2007's " Destination Calabria" with Alex Gaudino. All three of her s ...

(born 1964), American singer and songwriter *

David Waters (actor) David Waters is a stage, television and film actor who began his professional performing arts career at La Boite Theatre, Brisbane then joining the Queensland Theatre Company in repertory for six years and then Twelfth Night Theatre Compan ...

(born 1975), Australian actor *

Derek Waters Derek Matthew Waters (born July 30, 1979) is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and director. He is best known for his work on the television series ''Drunk History'' (2013–2019), which earned him eight Primetime Emmy Award n ...

(born 1979), American actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer and director *

Dina Waters Dina Spybey (born August 29, 1965) also known as Dina Waters and Dina Spybey-Waters is an American actress. She has appeared in more than 20 films, including ''John Q.'', ''subUrbia'' and ''The Haunted Mansion''. She is perhaps best known for h ...

(born 1965), American actress * Doris Ethel Waters, better known as half of the comedy duo

Gert and Daisy Florence Elsie Waters (19 August 1893–14 June 1990) and her sister Doris Ethel Waters (20 December 1899–18 August 1978) were English comic actresses and singers who performed as a double act. They are remembered for creating the c ...

Ethel Waters Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977) was an American singer and actress. Waters frequently performed jazz, swing, and pop music on the Broadway stage and in concerts. She began her career in the 1920s singing blues. Her not ...

(1896–1977), American singer and actress * Florence Elsie Waters, better known as half of the comedy duo

* Horace John Waters, the birth name of actor Jack Warner *

Jeff Waters Jeff Waters (born February 13, 1966) is a Canadian guitarist and the founder and bandleader of the metal band Annihilator. He was born and resides in Ottawa, Ontario. Waters has owned Watersound Studios Inc. since 1994 (where it was in Maple ...

(born 1966), Canadian guitarist *

John Waters (actor) John Russell Waters (born 8 December 1948) is an Australian film, theatre and television actor, singer, guitarist, songwriter and musician best known in Australia, where he moved to in 1968. He is the son of Scottish actor Russell Waters.

(born 1948), Australian actor * McKinley Morganfield better known as

Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 April 30, 1983), known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer and musician who was an important figure in the post-war blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago b ...

(1913–1983), American blues singer-songwriter and musician * Rhys Waters (born 1984), Welsh Canadian comedian, producer and director *

Latanza Waters Latanza Waters is a female house music singer who has been featured on several big club hits by various producers and remixers. Her first record, "Love Struck", was produced by Dewey B and released in 1995. This union led to the creation of the ...

, house music singer *

Roger Waters George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. In 1965, he co-founded the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Waters initially served as the bassist, but following the departure of singer-so ...

(born 1943), English rock bassist, vocalist and lyricist, co-founder of

Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philo ...

Russell Waters Russell Waters (born 10 June 1908, Glasgow, Lanarkshire – died 19 August 1982, Richmond, Surrey) was a Scottish film actor. Waters was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow and the University of Glasgow. He began acting with the ...

(1908–1982), Scottish film actor

Politicians

Anne Marie Waters Anne Marie Dorothy Waters (born 24 August 1977) is a far-right politician and activist in the United Kingdom. She founded and led the anti-Islam party For Britain until its dissolution in 2022. She is also the director of Sharia Watch UK, an or ...

(born 1977), founder of the far-right For Britain party * Charles A. Waters (1892–1972), American politician and judge *

Dan Waters Daniel Waters is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995. Background Waters worked at the Bracebridge Alcan plant before 1990, and operated an auto rep ...

, politician in Ontario, Canada *

Larissa Waters Larissa Joy Waters (born 8 February 1977) is an Australian politician. She is a member of the Australian Greens and has served as a Senator for Queensland since 2018. She previously served in the Senate from 2011 to 2017, resigning during the ...

(born 1977), Australian politician *

Maxine Waters Maxine Moore Waters (née Carr; born August 15, 1938) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 1991. The district, numbered as the 29th district from 1991 to 1993 and as the 35th district from 1993 to 2013, incl ...

(born 1938), Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives *

Stanley Waters Lieutenant-general Stanley Charles Waters (June 14, 1920 – September 25, 1991) was Canada's first senator to be appointed to his Senate seat following a non-binding provincial Senate election. Early life Born in Winnipeg and educated at Stra ...

(1920–1991), Canadian Senator

Sportspeople

Anthony Waters Anthony Devonne Waters (born July 25, 1985) is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson. He is also the older brother of Ind ...

(born 1985), American football linebacker *

Beau Waters Beau Waters (born 30 March 1986) is a former professional Australian rules footballer and vice-captain of the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Originally from the Happy Valley Football Club, South Australia, he playe ...

(born 1986), Australian rules footballer * Ben Waters (1904–1962), New Zealand rower *

Brian Waters Brian Demond Waters (born February 18, 1977) is a former American football offensive guard, guard. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of North Texas. He played most of his career for the K ...

(born 1977), American football guard * Carole Waters, retired Australian basketball player *

Dominic Waters Dominic Wayne Waters (born September 28, 1986) is an American professional basketball player, who lastly played for Ironi Nahariya of the Israeli Premier League. Standing at 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in), he plays at the point guard position. In 2013, ...

(born 1986), American basketball player in the

Israel Basketball Premier League Ligat HaAl ( he, ליגת העל, lit., ''Supreme League or Premier League''), or the Israeli Basketball Premier League, is the top-tier level league of professional competition in Israeli club basketball, making it Israel's primary basketball co ...

Drew Waters Andrew David Waters nicknamed 'B.A.' (born December 30, 1998) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Amateur career Waters graduated from Etowah High School in Woodstock, Geor ...

(born 1998), American professional baseball player *

Fraser Waters Fraser Henry Hamilton Waters (born 31 March 1976 in Cape Town) is an English former rugby union footballer who played at Centre for clubs including London Wasps and Treviso. Biography Waters grew up in Cape Town before moving, aged 11, with hi ...

(born 1976), South African footballer * Guy Waters, Australian boxer of the 1980s, '90s and 2000s * Harry Waters (s. 1976), British piano and Hammond organ player *

Huw Waters Huw Thomas Waters (born 26 September 1986) is a former Welsh cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium-pace bowler, who played for Glamorgan County Cricket Club, Glamorgan. He attended the Sixth Form at Monmouth Schoo ...

(born 1986), Welsh cricketer *

Joseph Waters (rugby union) Joseph Bow Waters (29 April 1882 – 30 June 1954) was a Scottish rugby union player.Bath, p. 139 He was capped twice in 1904 . He also played for Cambridge University RFC. He was the father of Frank Waters Frank Waters (July 25, 1902 � ...

Katarina Waters Katarina Leigh Waters (born 10 November 1980) is a German-born English American professional wrestler and actress. She is best known for her time with Impact Wrestling under the ring names Katarina or Winter and for her time in WWE under the rin ...

(born 1980), English wrestler *

Tremont Waters Tremont Waters (born January 10, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A. He played college basketball for the LSU Tigers. Early life and high school career Waters played at South Kent Schoo ...

(born 1998), American basketball player

Others

Allan Waters Allan Waters (August 11, 1921 – December 3, 2005) was a Canadian businessman and media icon. Waters was one of the founders of CHUM Limited, a Canadian media corporation. Waters worked in a drug company and quit in 1954 and with partner Jerry G ...

(1921–2005), Canadian businessman * Billie Waters (1896–1979), English artist *

Craig Waters Craig Waters was the public information officer and communications director for the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee from June 1, 1996, through February 28, 2022. He worked in the open government and First Amendment rights as a lawyer and g ...

(born 1956), public information officer of the Florida Supreme Court *

Daniel Waters (screenwriter) Daniel Waters (born November 10, 1962) is an American screenwriter and film director. He is the older brother of director Mark Waters. Early life Waters was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in South Bend, Indiana. In high school, Waters wrote ...

(born 1962), American screenwriter and film director, brother of Mark S. Waters *

David Roland Waters Madalyn Murray O'Hair (née Mays; April 13, 1919 – September 29, 1995) was an American activist supporting atheism and separation of church and state. In 1963 she founded American Atheists and served as its president until 1986, after which h ...

, the killer of the American activist Madalyn Murray O'Hair *

James Waters James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...

, Chairman of CHUM Limited * John Waters (disambiguation) **

John Waters (columnist) John Augustine Waters (born 28 May 1955) is an Irish columnist and author. He started his career with music and politics magazine, ''Hot Press'', and also wrote for the ''Sunday Tribune'' newspaper. He later edited the social magazine ''In Dubl ...

, Irish columnist **

John S. Waters John Waters (October 31, 1893 – May 5, 1965) was an American film director, second unit director and, initially, an assistant director. His career began in the early days of silent film and culminated in two consecutive Academy Award nominations ...

(1893–1965), American filmmaker who directed films from 1916 until 1958 ** John Samuel Waters, Jr. (born 1946), American filmmaker * Joseph Waters, composer *

Keith Waters Keith Waters (born 1962 in Kent, England) is a British animator who is best known for his work in the field of computer facial animation. He has received international awards from Parigraph, the National Computer Graphics Association and the Comp ...

(born 1962), pioneer in facial animation *

Lesley Waters Lesley Waters (born 3 April 1960) is an English celebrity chef. She regularly appeared on such cookery programmes as '' Ready Steady Cook'', and is currently one of the featured chefs on '' This Morning''. Career Waters studied French Cuisine ...

(born 1961), English celebrity chef *

Lou Waters Lou Waters (born July 7, 1938) was one of the original anchors of CNN, an American cable news channel when it first aired in the summer of 1980. He remained one of the network's primary anchors until September 2001, adding to a journalism career sp ...

, CNN anchor *

Margaret Waters Margaret Waters, otherwise known as Willis, was an English murderer hanged by executioner William Calcraft on 11 October 1870 at Horsemonger Lane Gaol (also known as Surrey County Gaol) in London. Waters was born in 1835 and lived in Brixton. ...

(1835–1870), English murderer *

Mark Waters Mark Stephen Waters (born June 30, 1964) is an American filmmaker who directed the comedy films ''Freaky Friday'', ''Mean Girls'', ''Ghosts of Girlfriends Past'', '' Mr. Popper's Penguins'', and ''Vampire Academy''. Filmography Film Producer ...

(born 1964), American film director * Mathew Waters (sound engineer), American sound engineer *

Miriam Van Waters Miriam Van Waters (October 4, 1887 – January 17, 1974) was an American prison reformer of the early to mid-20th century whose methods owed much to her upbringing as an Episcopal Church (USA), Episcopalian involved in the Social Gospel movement. ...

(1887–1974), American feminist social worker *

Ralph M. Waters Ralph Milton Waters (October 9, 1883 – December 19, 1979) was an American anesthesiologist known for introducing professionalism into the practice of anesthesia. Medical career Waters attended Western Reserve University Medical School and start ...

(1883–1979), American anesthesiologist * Richard Waters (1935–2013), American artist, inventor of

Waterphone A waterphone (also ocean harp) is a type of inharmonic acoustic tuned idiophone consisting of a stainless steel resonator ''bowl'' or ''pan'' with a cylindrical ''neck'' and bronze rods of different lengths and diameters around the rim of the bowl ...

Sarah Waters Sarah Ann Waters (born 21 July 1966) is a Welsh novelist. She is best known for her novels set in Victorian society and featuring lesbian protagonists, such as ''Tipping the Velvet'' and '' Fingersmith''. Life and education Early life Sara ...

(born 1966), Welsh novelist *

T.A. Waters Thomas Alan Waters (also known as T.A. Waters) (1938–1998) was an American magician, writer about magic, and science fiction author. History Born to Thurston Alan Waters and Pauline Ruth (Kunkle) Waters, T. A. Waters was a professional magic ...

, American writer ''fl.'' 1960s

People with the given name Waters

* Waters W. Braman (1840–1893), New York politician

References

{{surname English-language surnames Patronymic surnames