| ![Show Contents]() Watchet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Early Origins of the Watchet familyThe surname Watchet was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Watchet, held by Dodman from William de Mohun, a Norman Baron, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Early History of the Watchet familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Watchet research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1424, 1510, 1530, 1535 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Watchet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Watchet Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Watchet, Wachet, Wachett, Watchit, Watchette, Watchitt, Wachitt, Wackett, Wackitt, Wackette, Wakette, Wakett, Washet, Washett, Washit and many more. Early Notables of the Watchet familyMore information is included under the topic Early Watchet Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Watchet familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Arthur Wacket, an emigrant in bondage, who arrived in Virginia in 1737; John Wackett, an emigrant in bondage, who arrived in America in 1754; Joseph Wackett, who came to Virginia in 1765.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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