This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Watson family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Watson Family History

Watson Surname Meaning

Scottish English and Irish: patronymic meaning ‘son of Wat’ a pet form of Walter that was particularly common in Scotland and northern England.

See Watt.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Watson family from?

You can see how Watson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Watson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Watson families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 10,629 Watson families living in Yorkshire. This was about 20% of all the recorded Watson's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Watson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Watson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Watson 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 Watson. 6% of Watson men worked as a General Labourer and 64% of Watson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Watson were Incapacitated and Private Means.

View Census Data for Watson | 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
    3%
  • Builders Labourer
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    64%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Watson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2 million census records available for the last name Watson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Watson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Watson

Passenger Lists

There are 270,000 immigration records available for the last name Watson. 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 Watson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 299,000 military records available for the last name Watson. For the veterans among your Watson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Watson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Watson family history

Discover More

What is the average Watson lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Watson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Watson in 1940 was 35, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Watson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Watson 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Watson family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial