Notched, surface-mounted wall anchors and anchoring systems employing the same are disclosed. The anchor is a notched, folded sheetmetal construct utilizable with various wire formative veneer ties. The depth of the notch is greater than the combined thickness of the wallboard and the waterproofing layer. Various embodiments show wall anchor configurations with suitable veneer ties and differing sheathing arrangements. The notches, upon surface-mounting of the wall anchor, form small wells in the portion of the notch extending into the insulation, which wells entrain water vapor, condensate and water, and relieve the same from being driven into the wallboard.