Explore the Family Name Watton
The meaning of Watton
English: 1. variant of Watten, from the Middle English personal name Wat, a pet form of Walter (see Watt), with the characteristically West Midland genitival suffix -en. 2. habitational name from Watton (East Yorkshire), or perhaps in some cases from Watton (Norfolk), Watton at Stone (Hertfordshire), or Wattons in Bere Ferrers (Devon). The Yorkshire placename derives from Old English wēt ‘wet’, later replaced by Old Norse vátr ‘wet’, + Old English dūn ‘hill’. The Norfolk and Devon placenames probably derive from the Old English personal name Wada + Old English tūn. The Hertfordshire placename probably derives from Old English wād ‘woad’ + tūn.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Watton in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the Watton surname saw a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 34,210 in popularity and by 2010, it dropped to rank 35,147, representing a 2.74% decrease. Despite this, the number of individuals with the Watton surname actually increased from 627 to 641 during the same time frame. However, as a proportion of the total population per 100,000, there was a marginal decline of 4.35%, indicating that while more people bore the name, its prevalence in the overall population decreased.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,210 | #35,147 | -2.74% |
| Count | 627 | 641 | 2.23% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.23 | 0.22 | -4.35% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Watton
Turning to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some fluctuations over the decade. The ethnicity most associated with the Watton surname is White, which constituted 96.01% in 2000 and slightly decreased to 95.79% in 2010. In 2000, 0.96% identified as Asian/Pacific Islander and 1.91% as Black; however, these percentages dropped to zero by 2010. Meanwhile, those identifying as Two or More Races and Hispanic emerged in 2010, accounting for 1.56% each, up from zero in 2000. There was no change in representation from American Indian and Alaskan Native groups.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.01% | 95.79% | -0.23% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.56% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.56% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.96% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 1.91% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |