Contents [hide]

Watt History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Watt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The surname Watt was derived from the common given name Watt, which was a short form of Walter. "Walter being one of the great fontal names of the 13th and 14th centuries, and Wat being the popular nick., it can scarcely be a matter for surprise that Watts and Watson are two of our most familiar surnames." 1

Early Origins of the Watt family

The surname Watt was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat from early times, and were descended from Simon Wathes, a soldier of fortune, who accompanied King Stephen into England in the year 1135.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one listing for the family, that of William Wattes in Oxfordshire and later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes Watte as holding lands there at that time. 1

John Wathes was Lord of the manor of Eston in that county in 1347. His son, William Wathes, was father of Simon Wattys. Sir Richard Wattys, his son, fought under the banner of York at the Battle of Wakefield where he died leaving Thomas Wattys the manor of Whitefield in Northampton.

Sir Michael Wath (fl. 1314-1347), was an English judge who probably derived his surname from one of the three places of the name of Wath in Yorkshire. 2

"The family of Watts of Hawkesdale Hall, co. Cumberland, deduce themselves from Sir John le Fleming, Lord of Wath, on Dearn, co. York, who died 14. Edw. II. His second son Raynier assumed the territorial name De Wath, and his descendants gradually corrupted that designation to its present form. In temp. Edward II. it was De Wath or Wathes; temp. Henry VI., Wattys; temp. Henry VII., Wattes; temp. Charles I., and subsequently, Watts." 3

Early History of the Watt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Watt research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1446, 1511, 1615, 1674, 1748 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Watt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Watt Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Watts, Wathes, Wattys, Wath, Watt and others.

Early Notables of the Watt family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Isaac Watts (1674-1748), an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician, recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns

Watt World Ranking

In the United States, the name Watt is the 2,155^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Watt is ranked the 610^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,338 people with that name. 5 And in Australia, the name Watt is the 268^th popular surname with an estimated 12,775 people with that name. 6 New Zealand ranks Watt as 282^nd with 2,158 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Watt as 409^th with 15,924 people. 8

Migration of the Watt family to Ireland

Some of the Watt family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Watt migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Watt Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Hannah Watt, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1684 9

Watt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Charles Watt, who landed in Mississippi in 1798 9

Watt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Watt, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1808 9
Margaret Watt, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 9
James Watt, who arrived in New Jersey in 1811 9
Jane Watt, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 9
Andrew Watt, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watt migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Watt Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John Watt U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 10
Mr. John Watt U.E. who settled in Didgequash, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he is listed with the Loyalists and Disbanded Soldiers whose names appear as Passamaquoddy New Brunswick Loyalists, he served in the 74th Regiment 10
Mr. Robert Watt U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he is listed with the Loyalists and Disbanded Soldiers whose names appear as Passamaquoddy New Brunswick Loyalists 10

Watt Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Alexander Watt, who landed in Canada in 1820
Catharine Watt, aged 3, who arrived in Quebec in 1821
George Watt, aged 40, who landed in Quebec in 1821
Janet Watt, aged 10, who arrived in Quebec in 1821
John Watt, aged 20, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watt migration to Australia +

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

Watt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Watt, a mason, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mrs. Catherine Watt, (Watts), (b. 1787), aged 39, Irish dairy maid who was convicted in Kildare, Ireland for 14 years for uttering forged notes, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as having 5 children 11
Miss Jean Watt, (b. 1799), aged 31, Scottish needle woman who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Earl of Liverpool" in December 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, 1 child listed aboard with her 12
Mr. John Watt, Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 27th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
James Watt, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1838 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watt 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:

Watt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Watt, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Lady Lilford
William Hogg Watt, who landed in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Catherine Johnson
Mr. John Watt, British surgeon travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenbervie" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 7th March 1840 15
Mrs. Watt, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenbervie" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 7th March 1840 15
P Watt, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Lady Nugent
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watt migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16

Watt Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

David Watt, who settled in Barbados in 1680

Contemporary Notables of the name Watt (post 1700) +

James Watt FRS, FRSE (1736-1819), Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer who made major improvements to the steam engine, developed the concept of horsepower and the SI unit of power, eponym of the watt, a derived unit of power
Trent Jordan "T.J." Watt (b. 1994), American football outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the Nfl. Younger Brother of JJ Watt and Derek Watt
Derek John Watt (b. 1992), American football fullback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL Younger Brother of JJ Watt and older Brother to TJ Watt
Justin James Watt (b. 1989), American football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the NFL older brother to Derek Watt and TJ Watt
James Gaius Watt (1938-2023), American lawyer, lobbyist, and civil servant, U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 1981 to 1983
Douglas Benjamin Watt (1914-2009), American theater critic who reported on classical music and opera for The New Yorker, one of the founders of the Drama Desk Awards
Eddie Dean Watt (b. 1941), American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher
Michael David "Mike" Watt (b. 1957), American bassist, singer and songwriter, known for his work with The Minutemen
James Gaius Watt (b. 1938), American government administrator, Secretary of the Interior (1981-83)
Ian Watt (1917-1999), English literary critic, literary historian and professor of English at Stanford University
... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Watt family +

Frank Rock Slide

Mr. Robert Watt, "J. W.", Canadian stable foreman of Frank, Alberta who was buried in the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 17
Mr. Robert Watt, Canadian labourer of Frank, Alberta who was buried in the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 17

HMS Hood

Mr. Robert A E Watt (b. 1919), English Steward serving for the Royal Navy from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 18
Mr. Charles J J Watt (b. 1920), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 18

HMS Repulse

Mr. George Watt (b. 1913), English Able Bodied Seaman from Rawdon, Leeds, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 19

RMS Titanic

Mrs. Elizabeth Inglis "Bessie" Watt, (née Milne), aged 40, Scottish Second Class passenger from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 9 20
Miss Robertha Josephine "Bertha" Watt, aged 12, Scottish Second Class passenger from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 9 20

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-of-liverpool
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAJASTHAN 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Rajasthan.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Calgary Herald news article retrieved 11th August 2021. Retrieved from https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Calgary_Herald_Thu__Apr_30__1903_-copy-scaled.jpg
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html