Watkins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

Etymology of Watkins

What does the name Watkins mean?

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

Early Origins of the Watkins family

The surname Watkins 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 Watkins family

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

Watkins Spelling Variations

Welsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Watkins has occasionally been spelled Watkins, Watkyns, Watkens, Watkin and others.

Early Notables of the Watkins family

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

Watkins World Ranking

the United States, the name Watkins is the 174^th most popular surname with an estimated 136,785 people with that name. 1 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Watkins is ranked the 379^th most popular surname with an estimated 124 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Watkins is the 373^rd popular surname with an estimated 9,872 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Watkins as 307^th with 1,990 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Watkins as 221^st with 26,124 people. 5

Migration of the Watkins family to Ireland

Some of the Watkins 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.

Watkins migration to the United States +

In the 1800s and 1900s, many Welsh families left for North America, in search of land, work, and freedom. Those who made the trip successfully helped contribute to the growth of industry, commerce, and the cultural heritage of both Canada and the United States. In the immigration and passenger lists were a number of people bearing the name Watkins

Watkins Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Watkins, who landed in Jamestown, Va in 1607 7
Perregrin Watkins, (Watkines), aged 24, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "George" 7
Daniell Watkins, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "Charles" 7
Evan Watkins, who settled in Virginia in 1622
Rice Watkins, aged 30, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Francis Bonaventure" 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watkins Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Margery Watkins, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 7
Eliza Watkins, who landed in Virginia in 1714 7
Robert Watkins, who arrived in Virginia in 1715 7
Hezekiah Watkins, who landed in New York in 1744 7
John Watkins, who landed in North Carolina in 1748 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watkins Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Watkins, aged 41, who landed in New York in 1812 7
Margaret Watkins settled with her husband in Norfolk, Virginia in 1822 with her six children
Archibald H Watkins, who landed in Texas in 1836 7
Isaac Watkins, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1836 7
Mary Watkins, aged 40, who landed in Key West, Fla in 1837 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watkins migration to Canada +

Watkins Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Miss. Elizabeth Watkins U.E. who settled in Bell Vue, Beaver Harbor, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 daughter of Samuel Watkins listed as a child more than 10 years of age 8
Mr. John Watkins U.E. who settled in Bell Vue, Beaver Harbor, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 son of Samuel Watkins listed as a child more than 10 years of age 8
Miss. Mary Watkins U.E. who settled in Bell Vue, Beaver Harbor, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 daughter of Samuel Watkins listed as a child more than 10 years of age 8
Mr. Michalaleel Watkins U.E. who settled in Bell Vue, Beaver Harbor, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 son of Samuel Watkins listed as a child more than 10 years of age 8
Mr. Morris Watkins U.E. who settled in Bell Vue, Beaver Harbor, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 son of Samuel Watkins listed as a child more than 10 years of age 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watkins Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Henry Watkins who was a fisherman of Little Harbour in Twillingate Newfoundland in 1814 9
Henry Watkins, who landed in Canada in 1816

Watkins migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet

Mr. William Watkins, British settler convicted at Gloucestershire, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing sheep, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 6
Miss Rachel Watkins, (1759 - 1840), aged 30, British settler convicted at Herefordshire, England in 1784, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790, with a infant 7
Mr. John Watkins, (b. 1766), aged 23, British settler convicted at Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 7
Mr. Benjamin Watkins, (1760 - 1795), aged 29, British settler convicted at Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 7

Second Fleet

Mr. William Watkins, Welsh settler convicted in Monmouthshire, Wales in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 7

Third Fleet

Miss Mary Watkins, (b. 1766), aged 21, Welsh settler convicted in Cowbridge, Glamorgan on 25th April 1786, sentenced for 7 years for stealing clothing, transported aboard the ship "Charlotte" leaving on 13th May 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 22nd January 1788 7

Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Watkins Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Elizabeth Watkins, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Miss Sarah Watkins, (b. 1788), aged 22, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years for fraud, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she did in 1832 10
Miss Mary Watkins, (b. 1759), aged 55, English convict who was convicted in Hereford, Herefordshire, England for life for murder, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1832 11
Mr. Thomas Watkins, (b. 1788), aged 27, English convict who was convicted in Hereford, Herefordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1886 12
Mr. Thomas Watkins, (Tom), (b. 1788), aged 27, English carter who was convicted in Gloucester, Glouchestershire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1867 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watkins 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:

Watkins Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James E Watkins, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
J B Watkins, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
Mr. Watkins, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in New Plymouth, North Island, New Zealand in September 1852 13
Mrs. Watkins, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in New Plymouth, North Island, New Zealand in September 1852 13
Child Watkins, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in New Plymouth, North Island, New Zealand in September 1852 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watkins 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. 14

Watkins Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Nicholas Watkins, who settled in Barbados in 1639

Contemporary Notables of the name Watkins (post 1700) +

Wesley Wade Watkins (1938-2025), American politician, member of the United States House of Representatives Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district (1977-1991) and (1997-2003)
Linda Lou Tinker Watkins (1940-2025), American clubwoman
Craig Marcus Watkins (1967-2023), American lawyer, District Attorney for Dallas County, Texas from 2007 to 2015
Hollis Watkins (1941-2023), American activist who was part of the Civil Rights Movement activities in the state of Mississippi during the 1960s
Gloria Jean Watkins (1952-2021), better known by her pen name bell hooks, an American author, professor, feminist, and social activist
Beverly "Guitar" Watkins (1939-2019), American blues guitarist
Frank Watkins (1968-2015), American heavy metal musician best known as the bass player for the death metal band Obituary
Enid Watkins (1890-1971), American singer and dancer
Aaron Sherman Watkins (1863-1941), American politician, Prohibition Party Presidential candidate (1920) and Prohibition Party Vice Presidential candidate (1908)
... (Another 29 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Watkins family +

Frank Rock Slide

Mrs. John Watkins, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who survived the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 15
Mr. Thomas Watkins, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who survived the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 16
Miss Fernie Watkins, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who survived the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 16
Miss Ruby Watkins, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who survived the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 16
Mr. John Watkins, Canadian miner working in the town of Frank, Alberta who survived the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 16
... (Another 13 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Watkins 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.

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"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
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
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
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
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