Surname Waterbury - Meaning and Origin
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Waterbury: What does the surname Waterbury mean?
The surname Waterbury is of English origin and is derived from a place name. Most likely, it originated from the town of Waterbury in Devon, England. The name itself means "fortified town or settlement near the water or stream," coming from the Old English words “waeter” for water and “burh or burg” for fortified town. Therefore, individuals with the name Waterbury are likely to have ancestors who lived in or near such a settlement. This name became common as a surname following the Norman Conquest in England in 1066 when it became the custom to adopt the name of the place where one lived or owned lands as a surname. Like many other European surnames, it would have been used to distinguish people who moved from one place to another, or to identify those who lived in a particular region or area.
Order DNA origin analysisWaterbury: Where does the name Waterbury come from?
Waterbury is a surname with origins in England dating back to at least the 12th century. Its derivation is from the Old English word “watere” meaning “stream” and “burg,” meaning “stronghold.” The earliest known recorded references to this name are found in records from 1160 through 1185.
Today, the Waterbury surname is still most commonly found in the United Kingdom. Areas with particularly high concentrations of Waterbury include East Anglia in England, as well as East Lothian, Aberdeenshire, and Edinburgh in Scotland.
In the United States, the Waterbury surname is also quite common, particularly in New England states such as Vermont and Massachusetts.
In recent years, the Waterbury population has grown more widely spread, with large concentrations of people with this surname in other parts of the United States, Canada, and other countries including Ireland, Germany, France, and India.
Given the global nature of the Waterbury population today, it is likely that its history and heritage will continue to be a source of pride for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Waterbury
The surname Waterbury is derived from a place-name, most likely coming from an area of England known as Wateburia, meaning “water town”. Over time, the spelling of this surname has evolved and changed in different parts of the world. Common variants of this surname include Waterberry, Waterbery, Waterbury, Wattersbury, and Watterbury. It is also sometimes spelled with an extra “e” at the end, such as Waterburie or Waterburye.
In other parts of England and Europe, alternate variations of this surname have also been used. This includes Watbur, Watbourne, Watbourn, and Wotburn. In Ireland, the surname is generally spelled as Waterberry.
In the United States, the surname is more closely associated with a particular region like New England. Variations of this surname that are found in America include Waterbury, Watrous, Watterburg, Waterburg, and Waterburrough. It is also sometimes found spelled with two “r”s, such as Watttersburg.
Some of the more popular spellings of this surname today are Waterbury and Wattersbury. Anytime variations of this surname are encountered, it is quite likely that all of them are related in their origin.
Famous people with the name Waterbury
- Julien Waterbury, American actor
- Miller Waterbury, American NFL player
- Genie Waterbury, American operatic soprano
- Carly Waterbury, Canadian actress
- Robert E. Waterbury, American mechanical engineer
- Frank B. Waterbury, American mineralogist
- Harold Waterbury, American film director
- Michael Waterbury, Canadian actor
- William Waterbury, American businessman
- Tricia Waterbury, Canadian ice hockey player
- Dylan Waterbury, American voice actor
- Chandler Waterbury, American medical illustrator
- Jay Waterbury, American sportscaster
- Dennis Waterbury, Canadian psychologist
- Stephanie Waterbury, American documentary filmmaker
- Luke Waterbury, American ice hockey player
- Bob Waterbury, American Olympic distance runner
- Adam Waterbury, American singer-songwriter
- Emma Waterbury, Australian actress
- Lester Waterbury, British politician