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

Watt, 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 Watt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Watt in America

Watt is the 2387th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Watt surname appeared 15,211 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Watt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Watt 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 Watt

The surname Watt has its origins in Scotland, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "wath" or "vath," meaning a ford or shallow crossing in a river. This suggests that the name likely originated from someone who lived near a ford or crossing point.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists several individuals with the surname Watt or Vath from various regions of Scotland. In the 14th century, the name appears in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, indicating its presence among landowners and prominent families.

The surname Watt has a strong connection to the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the areas around Roxburghshire and Berwickshire. It is also found in other parts of Scotland, such as Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.

Historically, the name has been associated with several notable figures. One of the most famous bearers of the surname is James Watt, the renowned Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer born in 1736. His improvements to the steam engine played a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution.

Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Watt, a Scottish diplomat and ambassador who served during the reign of King James VI in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He played a significant role in the Union of the Crowns and the establishment of the Stuart dynasty in England.

In the literary world, Ian Watt, a Scottish literary critic and scholar born in 1917, made significant contributions to the study of the English novel and its origins.

Robert Watt, born in 1774, was a Scottish bibliographer and editor known for his work on the "Bibliotheca Britannica," a comprehensive catalogue of British literature.

Lastly, John Watt, a Scottish engineer born in 1811, was instrumental in the development of early railways and is credited with designing and constructing several notable bridges and viaducts in Scotland and England.

While the Watt surname has its roots in Scotland, it has spread across the globe, with bearers of the name found in various countries and cultures today.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Watt

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

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 Watt 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 Watt 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 Watt was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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