Find out how popular the last name Watson is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Watson.

Watson, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Watson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Watson in America

Watson is the 82317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Watson surname appeared 229 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Watson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Watson to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Watson

The surname WASTON is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "watsun," which means "son of Wat," a diminutive form of the name Walter. This patronymic naming practice was common during that era, with surnames often reflecting the father's name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the WASTON surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a William Watstun is mentioned. This document served as a census of landowners and their holdings during the reign of King Edward I.

The name WASTON has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Watston Green in Northamptonshire and Watston Farm in Warwickshire. These locations likely served as the residences of early bearers of the surname, who may have adopted the place name as their family name.

In the 14th century, the WASTON surname appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, which recorded tax payments made to the Crown. John Waston was listed as a taxpayer in 1379, indicating the presence of the family in the region during that period.

Notable individuals with the surname WASTON include:

1. Thomas Waston (c. 1555-1592), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs.

2. William Waston (1559-1616), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Taunton, Somerset.

3. John Waston (1616-1683), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of calculus and the study of planetary motion.

4. Mary Waston (1719-1793), a British botanist and naturalist known for her extensive collections of plant specimens and her contributions to the study of flora in the British Isles.

5. Robert Waston (1837-1911), a Scottish engineer and inventor credited with developing the first successful pneumatic tire for bicycles and automobiles.

Throughout its history, the WASTON surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Watston, Watsun, and Watsone, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in earlier times. However, the name has maintained its distinct origins and continues to be a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Watson

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Watson.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Watson was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Watson has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Watson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Watson, please contact us.

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