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Waterman Family History

Waterman Name Meaning

English and Dutch: occupational name for a boatman or ferryman or a water carrier (the English name was perhaps sometimes synonymous with Middle English waterlader or waterberer denoting a man who carried fresh water from a spring or stream for drinking or domestic use) or a topographic name for someone who lived by a pond or stretch of water (see Water ). English: occupational name from the Middle English personal name Water or Walter + man meaning ‘servant of Wa(l)ter’. Americanized form of German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) Wassermann or Jewish (Ashkenazic) Wasserman .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Warman, Wasserman, Westerman, Alterman, Walterman, Weatherman

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 Waterman family from?

You can see how Waterman families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Waterman family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Waterman families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 530 Waterman families living in London. This was about 22% of all the recorded Waterman's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Waterman families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Waterman surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Waterman ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Waterman. 7% of Waterman men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Waterman women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Waterman were Incapacitated and Incapacitated. .

View Census Data for Waterman | 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 1939

  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Gardener
    6%
  • Bricklayer
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Waterman family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 140,000 census records available for the last name Waterman. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Waterman census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Waterman

Passenger Lists

There are 15,000 immigration records available for the last name Waterman. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Waterman immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 19,000 military records available for the last name Waterman. For the veterans among your Waterman ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Waterman military records

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What is the average Waterman lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Waterman life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Waterman in 1944 was 56, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Waterman

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