Show ContentsWattie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Dalriadan clans of ancient Scotland spawned the ancestors of the Wattie family. Their name comes from the names Wattie and Watty, both of which are pet forms of the personal name Walter. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Bhaididh, which translates as son of Wattie or son of Watty.

Early Origins of the Wattie family

The surname Wattie was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Wattie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wattie research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1620 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Wattie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wattie Spelling Variations

The medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English created many spelling variations of the same name. Wattie has been recorded as MacWatt, MacWattie, MacWatters, MacQuattie, MacVatt and many more.

Early Notables of the Wattie family

More information is included under the topic Early Wattie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Wattie family to Ireland

Some of the Wattie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


New Zealand Wattie 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:

Wattie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Sarah Wattie, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mr. James Wattie, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Jura" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd September 1858 1
  • Mrs. Wattie, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow with 2 children aboard the ship "Jura" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd September 1858 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Wattie (post 1700) +

  • Wattie Dunphy (1895-1972), Irish sportsperson
  • Wattie Bishop, American politician, Mayor of Cleveland, Mississippi, 1952-56 2


  1. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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