NameCensus.

UK surname

Watkinson

An English topographic surname referring to someone living near a small watercourse.

In the 1881 census there were 3,507 people recorded with the Watkinson surname, ranking it #1,300 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,315, ranked #1,578, down from #1,300 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Croston, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and North Meols. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Derbyshire, Barnsley and Bassetlaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Watkinson is 4,918 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.0%.

1881 census count

3,507

Ranked #1,300

Modern count

4,315

2016, ranked #1,578

Peak year

1911

4,918 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Watkinson had 3,507 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,300 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,315 in 2016, ranked #1,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,918 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Watkinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Watkinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Watkinson 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 2,036 #1,425
1861 historical 1,631 #1,751
1881 historical 3,507 #1,300
1891 historical 3,561 #1,346
1901 historical 4,645 #1,217
1911 historical 4,918 #1,062
1997 modern 4,528 #1,446
1998 modern 4,617 #1,472
1999 modern 4,650 #1,475
2000 modern 4,638 #1,472
2001 modern 4,552 #1,468
2002 modern 4,567 #1,492
2003 modern 4,478 #1,481
2004 modern 4,464 #1,490
2005 modern 4,392 #1,490
2006 modern 4,368 #1,503
2007 modern 4,406 #1,501
2008 modern 4,368 #1,525
2009 modern 4,474 #1,523
2010 modern 4,526 #1,540
2011 modern 4,453 #1,540
2012 modern 4,368 #1,538
2013 modern 4,389 #1,564
2014 modern 4,393 #1,576
2015 modern 4,329 #1,578
2016 modern 4,315 #1,578

Geography

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Where Watkinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Croston, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, North Meols, London parishes and Glemsford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Derbyshire, Barnsley, Bassetlaw and South Ribble. 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 Croston Lancashire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 North Meols Lancashire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Glemsford Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Derbyshire 009 North East Derbyshire
2 Barnsley 018 Barnsley
3 Bassetlaw 012 Bassetlaw
4 South Ribble 013 South Ribble
5 Bassetlaw 009 Bassetlaw

Forenames

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First names often paired with Watkinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Watkinson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Watkinson, 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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Watkinson is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Watkinson is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Watkinson falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Watkinson 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 Watkinson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Watkinson

The surname Watkinson originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English words "wæter" meaning water and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, suggesting the name's bearers lived near a body of water or a watery location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273, where it is spelled as "de Waterton." This variation suggests the name may have been associated with a place called Waterton, which likely referred to a settlement near a body of water.

The Domesday Book of 1086 does not contain any direct references to the Watkinson surname, but it does mention several places with names related to water, such as "Waterleia" (Waterley) and "Watefeld" (Waterfield), indicating the significance of water-related names in medieval England.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "Watyrton," "Watreton," and "Waterton," reflecting the fluid nature of spelling during that era. One notable example is John de Waterton, a 14th-century English landowner and military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War.

As time passed, the surname evolved into its modern spelling of Watkinson. In the 16th century, records show individuals such as William Watkinson, a yeoman farmer from Lancashire, and Robert Watkinson, a merchant from Yorkshire.

Another prominent figure bearing the Watkinson surname was Sir Thomas Watkinson (1545-1622), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held the position of Attorney General for Ireland.

In the 18th century, the name gained further recognition with individuals like John Watkinson (1735-1801), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, and Thomas Watkinson (1761-1835), an English engineer and inventor known for his contributions to textile machinery.

The 19th century saw the birth of Mary Watkinson (1826-1900), a British philanthropist and social reformer who worked to improve the lives of vulnerable children and established the Watkinson Cottage Homes for destitute girls.

Throughout its history, the Watkinson surname has been associated with various professions, from landowners and military personnel to merchants, architects, engineers, and philanthropists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Watkinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Watkinson 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. Lancashire leads with 1,092 Watkinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.69x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,092 2.69x
Yorkshire 1,056 3.11x
Nottinghamshire 190 4.12x
Derbyshire 173 3.23x
Essex 135 2.00x
Lincolnshire 128 2.34x
Suffolk 111 2.66x
Middlesex 110 0.32x
Surrey 98 0.59x
Cheshire 89 1.18x
Cambridgeshire 79 3.64x
Warwickshire 37 0.43x
Kent 35 0.30x
Durham 32 0.31x
Leicestershire 25 0.66x
Norfolk 22 0.42x
Staffordshire 21 0.18x
Hertfordshire 12 0.51x
Bedfordshire 10 0.56x
Dorset 9 0.40x
Sussex 7 0.12x
Flintshire 6 0.65x
Cornwall 5 0.13x
Gloucestershire 3 0.04x
Hampshire 3 0.04x
Northamptonshire 3 0.09x
Northumberland 3 0.06x
Lanarkshire 2 0.02x
Worcestershire 2 0.04x
Berkshire 1 0.04x
Cumberland 1 0.03x
Denbighshire 1 0.08x
Devon 1 0.01x
Midlothian 1 0.02x
Oxfordshire 1 0.05x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.09x
Shropshire 1 0.03x
Wiltshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Meols in Lancashire leads with 118 Watkinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.69x.

Place Total Index
North Meols 118 29.69x
Glemsford 81 276.73x
Croston 63 300.29x
Preston 63 5.80x
Sheffield 63 5.84x
Everton 53 4.10x
Worksop 50 36.55x
West Derby 43 3.62x
Westhoughton 40 36.91x
Holy Trinity 38 4.66x
Filey 36 131.39x
Guiseley 36 82.91x
Hunslet 36 6.81x
Skelmersdale 36 53.20x
West Ham 35 2.35x
Greasley 34 32.67x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 31 9.81x
Ecclesall Bierlow 31 4.49x
Idle 31 19.72x
Leyland 30 42.46x
Parr 29 19.96x
Sutton Cum Duckmanton 29 518.78x
Birmingham 28 0.97x
Salford 27 2.26x
Bradleys Both 26 431.89x
Great Grimsby 24 6.91x
Huddersfield 24 4.86x
Birkdale 23 22.39x
Brightside Bierlow 23 3.46x
Liverpool 23 0.93x
Newington 23 1.82x
Otley 23 27.93x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 23 19.68x
Windle 23 10.07x
Bretherton 22 265.70x
Lathom 22 44.87x
Leeds 22 1.15x
Little Maplestead 20 651.47x
North Wingfield 20 83.54x
Pudsey 20 11.03x
Tickhill 20 92.51x
Eccleston In Prescot 19 9.32x
Shalford 19 222.22x
Clapham 18 4.21x
Conisbrough 18 56.59x
Doncaster 18 7.27x
Tarleton 18 80.61x
Lambeth 17 0.57x
Newton In Makerfield 17 13.67x
Rawmarsh 16 13.36x
Bradford 15 1.83x
Manea 15 109.73x
Moss Side 15 7.02x
St Pancras London 15 0.54x
Carlton 14 26.60x
Clint 14 305.01x
Great Little Preston 14 144.03x
Hoyland Nether 14 16.83x
Hulme 14 1.65x
Litherland 14 16.49x
Sculcoates 14 2.60x
Tankersley 14 55.38x
Barnoldswick 13 27.46x
Barrow In Furness 13 2.35x
Chatteris 13 23.51x
Goole 13 22.88x
Islington London 13 0.39x
Kirkdale 13 1.90x
Pemberton 13 8.03x
Pontefract 13 17.80x
Welney 13 108.06x
Kennett 12 588.24x
Knutsford Nether 12 26.28x
Newark Upon Trent 12 7.24x
Shoreditch London 12 0.81x
Toxteth Park 12 0.87x
Yeadon 12 15.67x
Blackrod 11 21.80x
Dronfield 11 16.02x
Pocklington 11 34.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 255
Sarah 143
Elizabeth 129
Ann 98
Jane 91
Ellen 81
Alice 68
Annie 62
Emma 51
Margaret 49
Martha 48
Eliza 39
Hannah 34
Emily 31
Charlotte 24
Fanny 24
Ada 23
Harriet 23
Clara 20
Maria 19
Kate 17
Edith 16
Catherine 15
Anne 14
Florence 13
Louisa 13
Isabella 12
Susan 12
Agnes 10
Elizth. 10
Frances 10
Betty 9
Caroline 9
Esther 9
Jessie 9
Lucy 9
Rebecca 9
Betsy 7
Harriett 7
Matilda 7
Gertrude 6
Laura 6
Lydia 6
Susannah 6
Amy 5
Anna 5
Lily 5
Margret 5
Susanna 5
Helen 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 231
William 188
Thomas 137
James 118
George 104
Henry 86
Joseph 68
Robert 61
Richard 54
Charles 46
Arthur 34
Alfred 33
Samuel 30
Edward 23
Frederick 20
Albert 18
Harry 18
Walter 18
Herbert 17
Peter 16
Wm. 16
Fred 15
David 13
Hugh 13
Daniel 12
Thos. 12
Ernest 11
Benjamin 9
Frank 7
Geo. 7
Jonathan 7
Tom 7
Francis 6
Frederic 6
Isaac 6
Robt. 6
Christopher 5
Harold 5
Jno. 5
Saml. 5
Chas. 4
Fredrick 4
Jos. 4
Joshua 4
Matthew 4
Willie 4
Alexander 3
Eli 3
Joe 3
Rowland 3

FAQ

Watkinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Watkinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,507 people were recorded with the Watkinson surname. That placed it at #1,300 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Watkinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,315 in 2016. That gives Watkinson a modern rank of #1,578.

What does the Watkinson surname mean?

An English topographic surname referring to someone living near a small watercourse.

What does the Watkinson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Watkinson 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.