Waters 1

Waters is an English toponymic surname originally given to someone who lived near a body of water, such as a stream, river, or lake. The name derives from Middle English water, with the plural form waters used to indicate proximity to a water source. It is equivalent to the German surname Wasser or Dutch Van Water.

Variants of the name include Attwater and Atwater, which incorporate the Middle English preposition atten ("at the") to form Attenwater, later shortened. These forms reinforce the occupational-locational meaning of the surname.

• Meaning: Dweller near water
• Origin: English
• Type: Toponymic surname
• Usage regions: Primarily England, later spread to other English-speaking countries