Last name: Watson

This is a famous Anglo-Scottish surname of great antiquity. Very popular in the north of England and the Border Country, it is one of the patronymic forms of the pre 7th century popular male personal name Watt, itself a development of the Anglo-Saxon personal name and later surname, Walter. This has the interesting translation of 'powerful warrior'. It is also claimed that the name was introduced into the British Isles by the Norman-French invaders after the Conquest of England in 1066, in the forms of Waltier and Wautier. Certainly in the medieval period of history the name generated a number of different spellings amongst them the short forms of Wat, Watt and Walt, and from these the patronymics Watts, Wattis, and the popular Watson. The surname in any form is first recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire in England in 1176 as Peganus Wat. In Scotland the earliest recording that we ccan find is that of as John Watson, who held lands in Edinburgh in 1392. Examples of later recordings taken from the early surviving registers of the diocese of Greater London include: the christening of Anne Watson on April 18th 1556, at St. Margaret's, Westminster; and the christening of Assabell Watson on May 16th 1561, at the church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury. One of the earliest emigrants to the Virginia Colony in New England was John Watson. He left London on the ship "Speedwell" on May 15th 1635, although his later history is now lost. The first recorded spelling of the family name is probably that of Richard Watson. This was dated 1324, in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, in Yorkshire, and during the reign of King Edward 11nd of England, 1307 - 1327. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop," often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Visitor Comments

Clayton Cannaday
Hello, This is an interesting account of the Watsons. I would ask what the source materials might be. That I might cross reference those materials with research materials we have compiled.

Jonathan Watson
Clayton, read your note. I am always reaching out for distant relatives. Are you from the Watson lineage? My lineage starts with a William and a George Watson who arrived in Virginia (they were brothers) The time was in the mid 1700's Jonathan Watson

Clayton Cannaday
Thank you for your comment.

samuel watson jr
on my line there was 4 brothers and went there own ways 2 went out west n the other ones settled on the east coast n most of my ppl in the nc mountains of shady grove then moved to franklin nc for work

Kevin Watson
My name Is Kevin Watson. I do not know much about my family origin. Could you help me with that? All I know is what I just read and that my grand parents came here after world war 2. I live in Hamilton Ontario and have all my life, but my parents both came to Canada when they were young. My mother from Scotland, and my father from England. (My mothers maiden name was Lennie). I have dark brown hair and brown eyes like my father. I am short and stocky (5'3" 170 lbs). Is this what a typical Watson looks like? I look like my father, but my younger sister and older brother both look like my mother, with lighter skin tone, light hair and green and blue eyes. Can you help me out or give me some more information on the Watson family history? E-Mail me kevindwatson2009@hotmai.com

Timothy Watson
My name is Timothy Watson. I have a brother named Kevin. We have brown hair, brown eyes and are typically ...my other two brothers 5'11" Our grandfather James Watson came from England to Nova Scotia and settled in New Brunswick... my Dad came to Toronto in his mid twenties and settled in Niagara... I don't know many Watsons actually. Learned on this site it is in the top 35 most common English surnames. Hope this helps..I am going to England next year... my mother's side are Stouts

Mike Watson
I have a family tree recently given to me by a 2nd Cousin, It dates back to a Joseph Watson b1823 Rhode Island. I cannot find the names of his parents to date back any further. Is it possible that he was a grandson of William or George??

Ann Dixon
I think you are overlooking the Scandinavian origins of all surnames ending in 'son'(due to Viking invasions and settlement of (principally) northern England in 8th and 9th centuries and later). Most surnames ending in 's' e.g 'Wilkins' are said to be Anglo -Saxon in origin but 'Wilkinson' would be Viking/Scandinavian in origin. There is still a very high population in northern England with surnames ending in 'son'. Another clue is place names in UK for example places sending in 'by' are Scandinavian in origin - so in my case my Watson heritage can be traced to the UK census of the villages of Carlton (Anglo- Saxon) and Melmerby (Scandinavian)in North Yorkshire in the late 19th century where my grandfather Matthew Watson was a child living with his parents (Watson) in Melmerby. So there is the 'son' and the 'by' which suggests Scandinavian origin by surname AND village,

Craig Watson
i'm craig william john watson!!!! glasgow!!!

fiona watson
My watsons come from west yorkshire round about the city of wakefield .Traced back to 1800 in Wakefied its self .Then to towns a few miles away as they moved for better job .

Barry Watson
My Watson family were from Bengeworth next to Evesham in Worcestershire. The earliest recorded member of the family Thomas Watson the son of John was born in 1491 in Evesham.

Deborah Watson
As Watson is a very popular surname in the UK it would be impossible to trace your lineage simply by looking for old records of families named Watson, endless speculation regarding the origins of the name by enthusiastic amateurs also serves little purpose either.

Shaun
Very interesting. I always thought the Watson name was Scottish but my ancestors were supposidely from a place in Yorkshire, England called Monk Fryston.

david gordon watson
as far as my father can recall my forefathers moved down to selby from edinburgh for work in the coal mining industry my father was born in cowick which is near goole and snaith and that region i do know that there are watsons in that area my grandfather was called walter and was married to anora nee penrose i dont know if this will help u at all but best of luck

Sam Watson
Blimey Shaun its a small world! I am Sam Watson from Monk Fryston! Can you tell me more? We (Watsons) moved to Monk Fryston in 1974 - there is another family of Watsons there too. I dont know of any family link with the village though?

Andrew
Our family has the Watson shield but a modified crest. The scroll says "Non Palma Sine Cruce" which apparently means "No Palms Without a Cross". The assumption is that it dates back to the crusades

glenn harris watson
my name is glenn harris watson when my father was laid to rest two of his fathers brothers showed up,when asked thier nationality i was told with i detected a wee bit of pride scotts irish.my grandfather worked for m.g.m. movie studios in culver city ca.on sound effects he was awarded for his work on the movie oklahoma and was in on the technicoler inventing. so go figure hah.he was called pops watson around the studio.take care all watsons.

Tamara Lynne Watson
My name is Tamara watson my son is Haiden Douglas Watson My father is Fredrick Stephen Watson his father was Josiah Douglas Watson and Josiahs father was Bates Siler Watson Bates Siler Watson's father was Thomas J.Watson born 1775 before that I have no record he had no other family by that name makes me think of a migration to usa All of the Watsons above listed are from Virginia/West Virginia I know this from West Virginia Census records and there is a Watson cemetery located in MIddleway West Virginia Does any of these names sound Familiar??? I had heard that Thomas J.Watsons parents were William and Rebecca Watson from England I was always told my family was scotch/irish Would love to know more

Kevin Hinkle
My mother is a Watson from West Virginia. Her 2nd great grandfather was born in approx. 1817 in England and came to the U.S. before 1850. He lived in the Charles Town, WV area. I recently located his gravestone there. I would love to know more about where he came from in England.

Tamara Lynne Watson
All my family is fron charlestown/middleway west virginia but at the time was before civil war and was still Virginia thats neat to know that Hinkle may be a noble branch of my family tree :) call me if you would like to talk and not just you but anyone who is a watson call me cause the Watson side here stops at my son 304-274-1521

Lisa
My name is Lisa Watson and I am from queensland Australia. I am trying to trace my family history and am having no luck. My mum is not forthcoming about the details concerning my father. His name is Brad Stanley Watson born 1965 in NSW. I know his father and him are both Torres Strait Islanders. The Islands to the north of Queensland in the Torres Strait. Go figure! Thought it might be interesting for you all to know there are some Watsons in Australia!

JodyAnn Watson
Hi lisa, i am JodyAnn Watson and i am from jamaica..maybe we are related..i now live in new jersey..

JEAN WATSON RICHARDS
HEY JODYANN i TOO IS Jamaican AND IS GOING TO Florida TO HAVE A REUNION ON Friday NOV 25. PRAY FOR US. LET ME KNOW WHERE I JAMAICA YOU ARE FROM AND THE NAME OF YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS IF POSSIBLE.

Danielle
My grandfather was Alan William Wilson Watson and he was a descendant of the tartan weaver William Wilson Watson of Scotland hailing from the clan Buchanan from Loch Lomond in Scotland. Not sure if this helps anyone with history and all but thought i would let people know. He resided in England until he passed away in the 1960's (i think). I know he and my grandmother divorced and he remarried but that is about all i know.

donna knowlton
hello! my name is donna knowlton. my great grandfather was named SAMUEL WATSON. he came to colorado in the late 1800's with his brother james and operated a freighting business. they hauled big equipement to the different mines in the surrounding mountains by horse and wagon. they came from the shenandoah valley in virginia along with friends. samuels mother's name was jemima walker, but i've read a monograph where RACHEL BOEHEN was mentioned as his father's wife. I'm stuck. any help will be appreciated. thanks donna

Tamara Lynne Watson
My Watson family is from the shenadoah valley with also includes West Virginia and Virginia call me maybe we have the same family tree call or email i have tons of things as well as a Watson Family bible printed in 1845 with lots of names 304-274-1521 bellatrixy33@yahoo.com

Grace Watson
This is very intersting finding out the history of my surname

kenneth
lol you have my daughters name , im kenneth daniel watson

Michael Watson
My name is Michael Watson Gandfather-Alonzo Watson 1896-1957 Fannin Co. Ga. G Gradfather-Rufus Watson 1844-1919 Cherokee Co.NC GG Grandfather-George William Watson Rutherford Co. NC GGG Grandfather- Adam Hyden Watson 1764-1841 Rutherford Co. NC. GGGG Grandfather- David Watson 1706-1785 Tyrone Co. Ireland GGGGG Grandfather-Samual Hugh Watson 1684-? Tyrone Co. Ireland.

Spencer Watson
i see some of your family is from Cherokee,well i'm a Watson that comes from the other side, in Tennessee near Gatlinburg in a place (believe it or not ,people call it Boogertown) i have no clue why ,i've lived in Knoxville my whole life,THE ONLY TIME I SEE "BOOGERTOWN" is when a WATSON dies…we have a family graveyard out there…and it is creepy as shit, but generations of Watson"e lay there so i guess i will as well…but Cherokee is a little too close where my great grandmother was raised to not say hello..we could be related,maybe.

Rowena Watson Gibson
Im looking for information about Levi Watson--he was my g-g-g-grandfather--I was told he came from Scotland--he lived in Ma. and came to Vermont around 1805--he had 3 sons-Moses, John. and Benjamin--the sons are all buried in Peacham, Vermont

Doreen Watson-Read nee WAtson
i have a whole group of family watsons born and bred in nottinghamshire and have lived there for over 100yrs

jim watson
my name is Jim Watson from Bangor northern Ireland,my GGGGrandfather was James Watson he Married Catherine McMackey abt 1822.They had eleven children they lived in Gortin Co Tyrone.If you think your related please get in touch

JEAN WATSON RICHARDS
My name is Jean Watson and I am originally from Jamaica West Indies. I migrated here over 40 years ago. My mother's name was Delores Watson and her mother and father's name were Luther and Myrtle Watson from St. Elizabeth in Jamaica. They later moved to Petersville, Westmoreland to raise a family of 15 children. It would be great to find out some more information about my great grand parents and when did the Watson family started to move to the west indies. thank you for your help.

wayne watson
Wayne Nichols Watson III here Durham N.C. have family in North Carolina and Richmond, Virginia great great grandparents Nichols - Watsons we are every where

Jennifer Watson
my name is Jennifer Watson. I have family all over Canada. My dad's name is John and his Parents names are John aka(Jack) and Margaret they were born in Winnipeg. My grandpa's parents John is from Banffshire, Scottland and his wife's name is Emily is from Buckie, Scottland. Their childern's names Jean, Jack, and Don. I f any of these names seem familiar to you please e-mail me at Jennifer.a.m.watson@gmail.com

kadian bailey-watson
hi all, my name is kadian bailey-watson. i am married to dave watson. his dad is james watson who is from portland in jamaica but now resides in st elizabeth.

Lawrence Watson
I was wondering if anyone had any information on the Watson family that lived in and around Devonport, Devon, England?

Julian Wang
can you tell me surname " Seneca" is belonging which nationality? pls

Sam Watson
Julian - I guess you know Seneca was a Roman philosopher?

natalie
My Name is natalie watson and im from the north of england (newcastle) this says that its a famous anglo-scottish surname but my dad said that we had irish in our family :/ hmm

Sam Watson
Wow. This is a fine account of how we have spread! I am Sam Watson from York in northern England, very near Wakefield, which I didnt know was an early source of our name! I live in Cairo at the monent. I have Irish and Welsh ancestry, though not in the Watson line, which we have lost track of after tracing it to the English West Country - I think..... my family knows more than I do. I am told (by the Royal College of Heraldry!) that Watson is a sept of the Buchanan clan, who had lands to the NW of Loch Lomond in the Highlands, and that we are entitled to wear the Buchanan tartan and call ourselves Highlanders. James is a family name with us, it has been handed down over the generations (it is my middle name) and William James Watson was a Royal Marine who fought in the Crimea - my g g g grandfather I think? On this eve of Burns Night raise a glass to us all - "though mountains divide us, and a waste of seas, still the blood is strong, the heart is Highland, and we, in dreams, behold the Hebrides"

Michael Watson
We have a "Watson" reunion at the foot of "Watsons Mountain" at Hell's Holler (Hollow) just north of Blue Ridge Georgia the 4th Sunday of August each year. The name of the Church is "Hipps Chapel. Most of the Watson's are burried in the Church cemetary. The oldest Watson grave is from the late 1700's. The elders that attend the reunion are a great source of information about the Watson history. The stories I've been told are very heart warming and show the determination and enduring Watson Spirit.