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Watkins Family History

Watkins Surname Meaning

English and Welsh: variant of Watkin with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Watkins family from?

You can see how Watkins families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Watkins family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Watkins families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2,175 Watkins families living in Monmouthshire. This was about 14% of all the recorded Watkins's in United Kingdom. Monmouthshire had the highest population of Watkins families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Watkins surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Watkins ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Watkins. 6% of Watkins men worked as a General Labourer and 65% of Watkins women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Watkins were Builders Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Watkins | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    6%
  • Farmer
    6%
  • Colliery Hewer
    4%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Watkins family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 703,000 census records available for the last name Watkins. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Watkins census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Watkins

Passenger Lists

There are 103,000 immigration records available for the last name Watkins. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Watkins immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 117,000 military records available for the last name Watkins. For the veterans among your Watkins ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Watkins military records

You've only scratched the surface of Watkins family history

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What is the average Watkins lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Watkins life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Watkins in 1940 was 38, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Watkins

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Watkins ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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