Show ContentsWaterston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Waterston family

The surname Waterston was first found in Yorkshire where the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include John Waulerson, [1] Johannes Wauterson and Alicia Wartson. [2]

In Scotland, the family claim Ross-shire, specifically the lands of Waterson in the parish of Fern (Fearn) as their ancient homestead. "These lands probably obtained their name from Walter, uncle and tutor of Dempster, one of the heirs portioners of the lordsnip of Menmuir. A payment of twenty-five shillings by William de Walteristoun to David Scot, custos of the burgh of Montrose, is recorded in 1329 and David de Walterstoun had eight marks out of the farms in the thanage of Tannadyce, 1359." [3] Wether Hill is located in Dumfries and Galloway, near New Galloway, Scotland; near Perth and near Penrith, England.

Early History of the Waterston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Waterston research. Another 279 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1317, 1359, 1384, 1450, 1495, 1514, 1540, 1585, 1594, 1634, 1656, 1676, 1890 and 1929 are included under the topic Early Waterston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Waterston Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Waterson, Watersone, Waterston, Watherston and many more.

Early Notables of the Waterston family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Edward Waterson (died 1594), English Catholic priest and martyr, beatified in 1929; Simon Waterson (1585-1634) a London prominent publisher of Edmund...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Waterston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Waterston family to Ireland

Some of the Waterston family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Waterston migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Waterston Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Waterston, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1803 [4]
  • John Waterston, who settled in San Francisco, ca. in 1850
  • John Waterston, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Waterston (post 1700) +

  • Robert "Bob" Waterston MD, American biologist, best known for his work on the Human Genome Project
  • Darren Waterston (b. 1965), American artist
  • Samuel Atkinson "Sam" Waterston (b. 1940), American Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actor, best known for his portrayal of Jack McCoy on the NBC television series Law & Order
  • John James Waterston (1811-1883), Scottish physicist and pioneer of the kinetic theory of gases.
  • David Waterston, New Zealand rugby union coach
  • George Waterston OBE FRSE (1911-1980), Scottish ornithologist and conservationist, born in Edinburgh
  • John James Waterston (1811-1883), Scottish physicist, pioneer of the kinetic theory of gases


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. 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)


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