Surname Watkin - Meaning and Origin

Watkin: What does the surname Watkin mean?

The last name Watkin has an old Welsh origin, and was once used as a patronymic surname, meaning ‘son of Watkin’. The Welsh personal name Watkin is ultimately derived from the old Welsh personal name Gwatcyn, or Gueddaign, which itself is a form of the name Matthew. Watkin is thought to have originated in Wales in the twelfth century and is primarily located in North West England, with most modern-day Watkinses living in Cheshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire.

The name Watkin is often associated with strength, loyalty, and adaptability. Those who bear the name Watkin are said to have strong values and an eagerness to learn new skills and adapt to changing situations. They are considered to be resourceful, ambitious, and capable of achieving great things.

There is no definitive meaning to the surname Watkin, as its original context has been lost with time, but the name is still associated with Welsh roots and qualities of resourcefulness and adaptability that could have been prominent traits in Watkin's ancestors.

Watkin: Where does the name Watkin come from?

The last name Watkin is most commonly found today in Australia, England, Wales, and the United States. In Australia, there is an area called Watkin's Road in the town of Glen Waverley, Victoria. In England, the surname is most common in Warwickshire and Staffordshire. In the United States, Watkin is most commonly found in the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania.

In the United States, Watkin is derived from the Welsh language and the root of the name means “little wat”, which is a reference to a river. The surname was popular among Welsh immigrants to America in the eighteenth century as a way to show loyalty to their home country. In England, the surname is of Norman origin and was originally spelled Watkin. The Norman form of the name was Watkinsons.

The Watkin surname also has other interesting derivatives around the world. In Scotland, the name Watkins or Watson is derived from the old personal name Wat, which also has English roots. In Norway, the surname Watson is derived from the Norwegian word vatn which means water.

Overall, the surname Watkin is quite a common one in many English speaking countries. It has a long history and is derived from many sources. Some notable people with the surname include Rugby Union player Ben Watkin, Australian rock musician Phil Watkin, and British poet Gerard Watkin.

Variations of the surname Watkin

Watkin (Watkins, Wattkin, Watkinson, Wattkin, Watkinson, Watkinsson, Wattkins) is a patronymic surname of Welsh origin. This surname is derived from the Welsh personal name Watcyn, which is itself derived from the Old Welsh given name "Gwatcyn"; the prefix "Gw-" indicates the soft mutation, or lenition, of the final consonant of another Welsh name, "Cadcyn". This name in turn is derived from the Old Welsh "cad" meaning battle.

Watkins is the most common of the many spellings of this surname. It is also a very popular Welsh family name, with at least half of all people in Wales surnamed Watkins being of Welsh descent. Some variations include Wattkin, Watkinson, Wattkins, Watkinsson and Wattkin.

The Watkin/Watkins surname has long been associated with the south west of Wales, with the largest concentrations of this name being found in and around the cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. This has resulted in the Watkin/Watkins surname being a common local surname in the cities and towns of south west Wales.

There are also some records of the Watkin/Watkins surname in England, although they are far less common than in Wales. Some of these English Watkin/Watkins surnames are thought to be associated with those of Welsh origin who emigrated across the border in centuries past.

Many people who bear the Watkin/Watkins surname have also spread to other parts of the world, and there are now Watkins families found in many countries around the world, particularly in the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Famous people with the name Watkin

• Liane Watkin, an American comedian and actor
• Mark Watkin, an Anglican priest and the Dean of St John's Cathedral in Brisbane, Australia
• Johnny Watkin, a British televangelist who specialized in faith healing
• Henry Watkin, a former Republican member of the Nebraska Legislature
• Beth Watkin, a professor of music at the University of Birmingham, England
• Freddy Watkin, an English former footballer
• Michelle Watkin, an Australian model and actress
• Edith Watkin, an English jazz singer and actress
• David Watkin, a British cinematographer
• Gerry Watkin, a Welsh rugby union player
• Kenny Watkin, a British stage and voice actor
• Lee Watkin, an English actress
• Chris Watkin, an American labor lawyer and trade union activist
• Paul Watkin, a British Formula One driver
• Rupert Watkin, a British politician and member of Parliament

Other surnames

WatkinsWatkinsonWatkisWatkiss