NameCensus.

UK surname

Watkis

A surname meaning watchman or guard.

In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Watkis surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, up from #26,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Hammersmith and Fulham and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Watkis is 139 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 181.6%.

1881 census count

49

Ranked #26,735

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

2013

139 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Watkis had 49 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 63 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Watkis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Watkis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Watkis 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 25 #28,853
1861 historical 42 #28,691
1881 historical 49 #26,735
1891 historical 28 #32,046
1901 historical 63 #27,134
1911 historical 56 #27,216
1997 modern 117 #24,553
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 105 #26,620
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 103 #27,503
2005 modern 96 #28,671
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 133 #24,817
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 133 #25,177
2012 modern 138 #24,614
2013 modern 139 #24,912
2014 modern 135 #25,581
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Watkis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southwark, Hammersmith and Fulham, Isle of Wight, Ealing and Walsall. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southwark 028 Southwark
2 Hammersmith and Fulham 010 Hammersmith and Fulham
3 Isle of Wight 006 Isle of Wight
4 Ealing 016 Ealing
5 Walsall 036 Walsall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Watkis

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Watkis

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Watkis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Watkis 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Watkis 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

Watkis is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Watkis falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Watkis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Watkis

The surname Watkis is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the name Watkins, which is derived from the personal name Wat, a diminutive form of the name Walter. The name Walter itself is of Germanic origin, derived from the elements "wald" meaning "ruler" and "hari" meaning "army."

The earliest known recorded instances of the name Watkis can be traced back to the late 16th century and early 17th century in various parish records and legal documents. For example, a William Watkis was recorded in the parish records of St. Dunstan's, Stepney, in London in 1611.

While the name Watkis does not appear in the Domesday Book, which was a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, there are numerous references to individuals with the similar surname Watkins in historical documents from various parts of England.

One notable early bearer of the Watkis name was John Watkis, a Welsh clergyman and academic who lived from 1642 to 1737. He served as the Warden of All Souls College, Oxford, and was a respected scholar and theologian.

In the 18th century, Thomas Watkis (1715-1786) was a prominent Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament for Cardigan Boroughs. He was a influential figure in local politics and played a significant role in the development of the town of Carmarthen.

Another individual of note was Sir Edward Watkis (1798-1873), a British lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer from 1857 to 1873. He was widely respected for his legal expertise and judicial acumen.

In the 19th century, Robert Watkis Lloyd (1834-1904) was a Welsh industrialist and businessman who made significant contributions to the coal mining industry in South Wales. He was also a prominent philanthropist and supported various educational and charitable causes.

Finally, Sir Rhys Watkis Williams (1865-1955) was a Welsh lawyer and politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Banbury from 1910 to 1918. He was also a noted advocate for Welsh language and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Watkis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Watkis 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. Shropshire leads with 30 Watkis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.20x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 30 74.20x
Staffordshire 4 2.53x
Kent 3 1.88x
Lancashire 3 0.54x
Worcestershire 3 4.91x
Yorkshire 2 0.43x
Cheshire 1 0.97x
Middlesex 1 0.21x
Warwickshire 1 0.85x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Madeley in Shropshire leads with 13 Watkis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 878.38x.

Place Total Index
Madeley 13 878.38x
Wellington 8 352.42x
W Felton 7 4117.65x
Kidderminster Borough 3 83.80x
Lewisham 3 35.25x
Holy Trinity 2 17.94x
Walsall Foreign 2 24.51x
Wavertree 2 112.36x
Aston Botterell 1 3333.33x
Birmingham 1 2.54x
Cannock 1 36.23x
Cheadle 1 50.76x
Dawley 1 68.03x
Kinver 1 217.39x
Mile End Old Town 1 13.53x
Moss Side 1 34.25x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Watkis households.

FAQ

Watkis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Watkis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Watkis surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Watkis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Watkis a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Watkis surname mean?

A surname meaning watchman or guard.

What does the Watkis map show?

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