Contents [hide]

Watkin History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Watkin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

A product of the ancient Brythonic Celts of Wales, the name Watkin, is from the personal name Walter. The surname Watkin is derived from the pet form Wat, which is supplemented by the common diminutive suffix -kin.

Early Origins of the Watkin family

The surname Watkin was first found in Breconshire (Welsh: Sir Frycheiniog), a traditional county in southern Wales, which takes its name from the Welsh kingdom of Brycheiniog (5th-10th centuries), where they held a family seat at Pennoyre from ancient times and early in the eleventh century branched to Llangorse in that same shire.

Early History of the Watkin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Watkin research. Another 45 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1653, 1660, 1665 and 1670 are included under the topic Early Watkin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Watkin Spelling Variations

Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. People could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual's design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The Watkin name over the years has been spelled Watkins, Watkyns, Watkens, Watkin and others.

Early Notables of the Watkin family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Morgan Watkins (fl. 1653-1670), English Quaker from Herefordshire who was imprisoned in 1660 in St...

Watkin Ranking

In the United States, the name Watkin is the 15,017^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Watkin family to Ireland

Some of the Watkin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Watkin migration to the United States +

The Welsh began to emigrate to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s in search of land, work, and freedom. Those that arrived helped shape the industry, commerce, and the cultural heritage of both Canada and the United States. The records regarding immigration and passenger show a number of people bearing the name Watkin:

Watkin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Tho Watkin, aged 35, who landed in Virginia in 1635 2
Howell Watkin, who landed in Virginia in 1641 2
James Watkin, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 2
George Watkin, who arrived in Virginia in 1673 2

Watkin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Catherine Watkin, who landed in America in 1760-1763 2

Watkin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Arthur Watkin, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1871 2
Mr. John Watkin, (b. 1856), aged 30, Cornish miner departing from Liverpool aboard the ship "Aurania" arriving in New York, USA on 2 August 1886 3
Edgar Watkin, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1892

Watkin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John Watkin, aged 49, who landed in America from Nottingham, in 1901
Elizabeth Watkin, aged 32, who landed in America from Stafford, in 1903
Kate Watkin, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from Paris, in 1905
Dilys Watkin, aged 7, who settled in America from London, in 1905
Elizabeth Watkin, aged 46, who immigrated to the United States from Bradford, in 1906
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watkin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Watkin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Watkin, English convict who was convicted in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4

Watkin migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Watkin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Watkin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
Maria Watkin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
Anne M. Watkin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
Sarah J. Watkin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
Joseph Watkin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Watkin (post 1700) +

William Ward Watkin (1886-1952), American architect
Pierre Watkin (1889-1960), American actor, best known for his role as Perry White in the Superman serials of the late 1940s
Henry Watkin (1824-1910), English-American socialist
William Thomas Watkin (1836-1888), English archaeologist, born at Salford, son of John Watkin, a native of that town
Ian Watkin (1940-2016), New Zealand actor, best known for his roles in Braindead (1992), and Sleeping Dogs (1977)
Thomas William Steel "Billy" Watkin (1932-2001), English footballer
Cyril Watkin (1926-2007), English footballer
Frank Watkin (1904-1979), English footballer
Arthur Watkin (1895-1972), English footballer
Steven Llewellyn Watkin (b. 1964), English cricketer
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Watkin family +

HMS Dorsetshire

Richard Christopher Edward Watkin, British Sub Lieutenant aboard the HMS Dorsetshire (1945) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 5

The Watkin Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Pen-aur-y-chalon Wir
Motto Translation: A golden head and true heart.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html