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

Watts, 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 Watts surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Watts in America

Watts is the 348th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Watts surname appeared 89,649 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 30 people would have the surname Watts.

We can also compare 2010 data for Watts 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 Watts

The surname Watts has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "watt," which means a wood or forest. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a wooded area.

Variations of the spelling include Watt, Watte, and Wat. The name is found in early records such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Watte." It is also present in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, listed as "Walter Watte."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Watts can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Wat." This entry refers to a landowner in Norfolk.

The name Watts has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. Isaac Watts (1674-1748) was an English Christian minister, hymn writer, and theologian, known for composing many famous hymns, including "Joy to the World" and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."

Another prominent figure was James Watt (1736-1819), the Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer who significantly improved the steam engine's design, contributing to the Industrial Revolution's advancement.

In literature, Alaric Alexander Watts (1797-1864) was an English poet and writer, known for his works such as "The Poetical Album" and "Lyrics of the Heart."

The name Watts has also been associated with the arts. Gilbert Watts (1596-1657) was an English portrait painter and the master of the Painter-Stainers' Company in London.

In the 20th century, Andre Watts (born 1946) is a renowned American classical pianist and professor of music at Indiana University.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the surname Watts throughout history, reflecting its long-standing presence and significance across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Watts

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

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

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

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