Watson Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Watson Name Meaning: Has Anglo-Scottish origins. It is thought to have been brought to Britain by Norman-French invaders and it has a meaning of 'powerful warrior'.

It was first recorded in Devon in 1176.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Watson Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Watson family

Profession Census Frequency
School 6,624
Private Means 587
Farm Labourer 545
Coal Miner Hewer 471
General Labourer 432
Farmer 428
General Servant (domestic) 386
Cotton Weaver 381
Labourer 354
Dressmaker 287
None 257
At Home 255
Domestic Servant 253
Clerk 239
At School 233
Housekeeper 170
House Keeper 163
House Painter 158
Shop Assistant 153
Joiner 153
Bricklayer 149
Scholar 143
Butcher 141
Charwoman 136
General Servant Domestic 129

Watson Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Watson 100% 367,500
2 Wattson 86% 1,866
3 Witson 83% 1,050
4 Wetson 83% 414
5 Wateson 86% 121

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The surname Watson is the most popular version of all its varients

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