Explore the Family Name Watchman
The meaning of Watchman
1. Native American (Navajo): from English watchman, probably used as a translation of a Navajo term for this occupation, ha’asídí. 2. English and Scottish: occupational name from Middle English waccheman ‘watchman, guard, sentry’, also used as a nickname for a person characterised by wakefulness. Compare Wakeman.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Watchman in the United States?
According to the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname 'Watchman' has seen some slight changes between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Watchman held the rank of 24,949 compared to its slightly lower rank of 26,067 in 2010. This change in rank represents a decrease of 4.48%. However, the count of people carrying the Watchman surname increased marginally from 935 in 2000 to 940 in 2010, a change of 0.53%. Consequently, the proportion per 100k of the population with this surname decreased by 8.57% over this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,949 | #26,067 | -4.48% |
| Count | 935 | 940 | 0.53% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.35 | 0.32 | -8.57% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Watchman
The ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Watchman' also shifted between 2000 and 2010 according to Decennial U.S. Census data. The majority of individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native carried the surname, with an increase from 70.27% in 2000 to 72.77% in 2010. The percentage of those identifying as White also increased slightly, from 12.83% to 13.09%. The largest increases were seen among those identifying as Hispanic and Black, with growths of 108.41% and 119.46%, respectively. However, those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and belonging to two or more races saw decreases in association with this surname, dropping by 45.32% and 57.75% respectively. Please note that for privacy reasons, some of the data was suppressed (S).
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 70.27% | 72.77% | 3.56% |
| White | 12.83% | 13.09% | 2.03% |
| Black | 2.57% | 5.64% | 119.46% |
| Two or More Races | 7.81% | 3.3% | -57.75% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 5.45% | 2.98% | -45.32% |
| Hispanic | 1.07% | 2.23% | 108.41% |