NameCensus.

UK surname

Watkin

A baptismal surname meaning "son of Wat", a diminutive form of Walter.

In the 1881 census there were 2,620 people recorded with the Watkin surname, ranking it #1,697 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,517, ranked #2,627, down from #1,697 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, London parishes and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Watkin is 3,534 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.9%.

1881 census count

2,620

Ranked #1,697

Modern count

2,517

2016, ranked #2,627

Peak year

1911

3,534 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Watkin had 2,620 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,697 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,517 in 2016, ranked #2,627.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,534 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Watkin surname distribution map

The map shows where the Watkin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Watkin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Watkin over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 2,072 #1,402
1861 historical 1,794 #1,615
1881 historical 2,620 #1,697
1891 historical 2,972 #1,586
1901 historical 3,198 #1,752
1911 historical 3,534 #1,480
1997 modern 2,574 #2,465
1998 modern 2,714 #2,444
1999 modern 2,792 #2,398
2000 modern 2,729 #2,432
2001 modern 2,686 #2,418
2002 modern 2,733 #2,429
2003 modern 2,659 #2,439
2004 modern 2,656 #2,439
2005 modern 2,556 #2,492
2006 modern 2,559 #2,492
2007 modern 2,605 #2,473
2008 modern 2,606 #2,489
2009 modern 2,629 #2,529
2010 modern 2,677 #2,540
2011 modern 2,620 #2,561
2012 modern 2,530 #2,596
2013 modern 2,558 #2,615
2014 modern 2,583 #2,599
2015 modern 2,538 #2,616
2016 modern 2,517 #2,627

Geography

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Where Watkins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, London parishes, Burslem, Toxteth Park and Llanfair-Caereinion. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys and Barnsley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Llanfair-Caereinion Montgomeryshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 006 Powys
2 Powys 001 Powys
3 Powys 007 Powys
4 Powys 003 Powys
5 Barnsley 026 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Watkin

These lists show first names that appear often with the Watkin surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Watkin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Watkin, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Watkin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Watkin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Watkin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Watkin is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Watkin falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Watkin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Watkin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Watkin

The surname Watkin has its origins in Wales, deriving from the Welsh personal name "Watkin" or "Wat", a pet form of the name Walter. The name's earliest recorded use dates back to the 13th century.

Watkin is believed to have originated from the Germanic elements "wald" meaning "rule" and "heri" meaning "army". The name Walter, from which Watkin is derived, was quite popular among the Normans and was introduced to Britain during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Watkin can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Watkin" in the county of Gloucestershire. This entry suggests that the name had already gained a foothold in England by the late 11th century.

In the 14th century, the surname Watkin appeared in various forms such as "Watkyns" and "Watkyn" in ancient records and manuscripts from Wales and the English border counties. This variation in spelling was common during that time period.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Watkin include Sir Thomas Watkin (1545-1599), a Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was John Watkin (1622-1701), a Welsh clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of St. David's.

In the 18th century, Richard Watkin (1745-1808) was a Welsh Anglican priest and scholar who served as the Chancellor of St. Asaph's Cathedral. William Watkin (1801-1870) was a Welsh industrialist and coal magnate who played a significant role in the development of the South Wales coalfields.

One of the most well-known figures with the surname Watkin was Sir Edward Watkin (1819-1901), a British railway entrepreneur and Member of Parliament. He was instrumental in the construction of several major railway lines in the United Kingdom and was knighted for his services to the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Watkin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Watkin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Montgomeryshire leads with 334 Watkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.01x.

County Total Index
Montgomeryshire 334 57.01x
Yorkshire 301 1.19x
Lancashire 284 0.94x
Staffordshire 255 2.95x
Shropshire 182 8.24x
Glamorgan 168 3.77x
Middlesex 129 0.50x
Lincolnshire 124 3.03x
Nottinghamshire 94 2.73x
Durham 78 1.03x
Northamptonshire 73 3.04x
Cheshire 71 1.26x
Warwickshire 53 0.82x
Leicestershire 49 1.73x
Surrey 48 0.39x
Flintshire 41 5.97x
Denbighshire 39 4.04x
Monmouthshire 32 1.73x
Kent 27 0.31x
Brecknockshire 19 3.72x
Cardiganshire 18 2.89x
Carmarthenshire 17 1.58x
Northumberland 17 0.45x
Bedfordshire 16 1.21x
Merionethshire 16 3.42x
Derbyshire 15 0.37x
Gloucestershire 15 0.30x
Herefordshire 15 1.43x
Rutland 13 6.92x
Worcestershire 13 0.39x
Sussex 9 0.21x
Caernarfonshire 8 0.77x
Radnorshire 7 3.39x
Isle of Man 6 1.26x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.74x
Suffolk 5 0.16x
Ayrshire 4 0.21x
Renfrewshire 4 0.20x
Hertfordshire 3 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.12x
Hampshire 2 0.04x
Lanarkshire 2 0.02x
Royal Navy 2 0.66x
Devon 1 0.02x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Oxfordshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burslem in Staffordshire leads with 52 Watkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.03x.

Place Total Index
Burslem 52 21.03x
Stoke Upon Trent 39 4.26x
Liverpool 35 1.90x
Llanwnog 33 269.61x
Newcastle Under Lyme 31 20.30x
Llanfair Caereinion 30 149.93x
Toxteth Park 29 2.82x
Clase 28 16.92x
Halifax 27 7.26x
Llanfihangel 27 372.93x
Ysceifiog 27 254.96x
Leeds 25 1.75x
Cwmdu 21 38.72x
Pool 21 47.52x
Llangeinor 20 76.31x
Manchester 20 1.47x
Cheswardine 19 201.48x
Tanfield 19 21.01x
West Derby 19 2.14x
Aston 18 1.01x
Barnsley 18 6.89x
Trentham 18 24.52x
Clayton 17 27.41x
Holy Trinity 17 2.79x
Wakerley 17 871.79x
Berriew 16 99.01x
Kerry 16 90.81x
Llanfyllin 16 103.49x
Barton Under Needwood 15 95.72x
Battersea 15 1.59x
Huyton With Roby 15 42.19x
Llanyblodwell 15 182.93x
Oswestry Town 15 21.21x
Stapleford 15 53.59x
Whaplode 15 107.68x
Tarbock 14 254.55x
Wellingborough 14 11.58x
Ystradyfodwg 14 3.59x
Bethnal Green London 13 1.17x
Macclesfield 13 5.18x
Newark Upon Trent 13 10.49x
Northowram 13 7.32x
Richmond 13 32.84x
Rotherham 13 9.10x
Bedwellty 12 3.68x
Bettws 12 239.52x
Brightside Bierlow 12 2.41x
Edmonton 12 5.83x
Llanfechan 12 217.39x
Manafon 12 218.18x
Newtown 12 32.03x
Oswestry Rural 12 35.46x
Clerkenwell London 11 1.82x
Clun 11 70.15x
Llanbrynmair 11 79.42x
Llansamlet Lower 11 27.30x
Nottingham St Mary 11 1.23x
Sheffield 11 1.36x
Wem 11 33.49x
Chetwynd 10 140.25x
Ecclesall Bierlow 10 1.94x
Grantham 10 18.77x
Halton 10 79.43x
Islington London 10 0.40x
Kirkdale 10 1.96x
Llansilin 10 62.19x
Mason 10 115.07x
Newcastle Higher 10 33.08x
St Pancras London 10 0.49x
West Dean 10 12.28x
Camberwell 9 0.55x
Farndish 9 1428.57x
Gainsborough 9 9.34x
Huddersfield 9 2.44x
Llandyssil 9 143.08x
Llanrhaiadr Ym Mochnant 9 47.62x
Newington 9 0.95x
Openshaw 9 6.33x
Willoughby On Wolds 9 214.29x
Windle 9 5.27x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Watkin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 204
Elizabeth 126
Sarah 113
Ann 69
Jane 52
Annie 46
Martha 42
Margaret 40
Emma 39
Alice 37
Hannah 37
Eliza 33
Catherine 30
Ellen 29
Anne 18
Emily 18
Louisa 17
Edith 14
Maria 14
Ada 12
Charlotte 12
Fanny 12
Harriet 11
Clara 9
Harriett 9
Florence 8
Isabella 8
Frances 7
Rachel 7
Rebecca 7
Eleanor 6
Elizth. 6
Kate 6
Lucy 6
Rose 6
Amy 5
Betsy 5
Gertrude 5
Jessie 5
Lydia 5
Margret 5
Matilda 5
Susan 5
Anna 4
Bertha 4
Caroline 4
Lily 4
Lizzie 4
Sophia 4
Julia 3

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Watkin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 192
William 179
Thomas 104
Edward 63
George 63
Joseph 47
Henry 44
James 41
David 39
Richard 37
Charles 35
Evan 34
Robert 30
Arthur 25
Alfred 18
Samuel 16
Frederick 15
Walter 14
Isaac 11
Albert 9
Daniel 9
Thos. 9
Benjamin 8
Watkin 7
Harry 6
Herbert 6
Job 6
Matthew 6
Francis 5
Hugh 5
Lewis 5
Morgan 5
Nathaniel 5
Aaron 4
Ernest 4
Tom 4
Wm. 4
Cuthbert 3
Edgar 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Harold 3
Jno. 3
Wm 3
A. 2
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Ephraim 2
Leonard 2
Mark 2

FAQ

Watkin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Watkin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,620 people were recorded with the Watkin surname. That placed it at #1,697 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Watkin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,517 in 2016. That gives Watkin a modern rank of #2,627.

What does the Watkin surname mean?

A baptismal surname meaning "son of Wat", a diminutive form of Walter.

What does the Watkin map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Watkin bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.