Watson
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Watson Surname Genealogy
Walter Watson was recorded as a landowner in Dumbarton on Clydeside in 1494. A number of his descendants became magistrates and provosts (mayors) there. The Watsons have also been long-established at Applegate in Arbroath.
England. A Watson family have been at Rockingham castle in Northamptonshire since 1485 when Edward Watson, the founder of the Watson dynasty, acquired the castle. The direct family line ended with the death of the 3rd Earl of Rockingham in 1746. Another line, however, continued with Charles Watson-Wentworth, Lord Rockingham, who was twice British Prime Minister in the late 1700's. Some of the Watson families in Yorkshire may also have had a lineal descent.
One line of Watsons held the old Malton priory and later acquired Bilton Hall near Harrogate. Joseph Watson started his soap business in Leeds in 1830. This was transformed by his grandson Joseph into the largest soap manufacturer in the north of England. The firm was known as "Soapy Joe's."
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George Watson was a 17th century Edinburgh banker who founded Watson's College, one of the leading private schools in the city.
Thomas Watson worked with Alexander Graham Bell in the invention of the telephone.
William Watson was a coal mining baron in West Virginia in the early 1900's.
John Watson was the fictional associate of the detective Sherlock Holmes.
Robert Watson-Watt was the Scottish pioneer of radar.
Thomas J. Watson was the founder of the computer giant IBM.
Tom Watson is an American golfer. He was the great rival to Jack Nicklaus in the 1970's.
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For other surnames check the companion selectsurname.com site where there are to be found the history and genealogy for more than 500 surnames.
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Watson is patronymical, from "son of
Wat". Wat was a medieval
abbreviation of the Germanic name Walter, coming from wald meaning "rule" and heri
meaning "army." The
surname sprung up in the Scots Lowlands and in the north of
England.
Select
Watson Resources on
The
Internet
- Clan Watson. UK Watson clan site.
- The Watson Family Genealogy Website. Watsons from Cambridge in England.
- The Watson Family Genealogy. Watson family in New England.
- Watson Family Tree. Watsons in New York and Michigan.
- The Watsons - An Australian Story. Watsons in shipping from Yorkshire to Tasmania.
Walter Watson was recorded as a landowner in Dumbarton on Clydeside in 1494. A number of his descendants became magistrates and provosts (mayors) there. The Watsons have also been long-established at Applegate in Arbroath.
England. A Watson family have been at Rockingham castle in Northamptonshire since 1485 when Edward Watson, the founder of the Watson dynasty, acquired the castle. The direct family line ended with the death of the 3rd Earl of Rockingham in 1746. Another line, however, continued with Charles Watson-Wentworth, Lord Rockingham, who was twice British Prime Minister in the late 1700's. Some of the Watson families in Yorkshire may also have had a lineal descent.
One line of Watsons held the old Malton priory and later acquired Bilton Hall near Harrogate. Joseph Watson started his soap business in Leeds in 1830. This was transformed by his grandson Joseph into the largest soap manufacturer in the north of England. The firm was known as "Soapy Joe's."
Select Watson Names
George Watson was a 17th century Edinburgh banker who founded Watson's College, one of the leading private schools in the city.
Thomas Watson worked with Alexander Graham Bell in the invention of the telephone.
William Watson was a coal mining baron in West Virginia in the early 1900's.
John Watson was the fictional associate of the detective Sherlock Holmes.
Robert Watson-Watt was the Scottish pioneer of radar.
Thomas J. Watson was the founder of the computer giant IBM.
Tom Watson is an American golfer. He was the great rival to Jack Nicklaus in the 1970's.
Select Watsons Today
- 181,000 in the UK (most numerous in Yorkshire)
- 75,000 in America (most numerous in Texas)
- 64,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Australia)
Select Surname List
For other surnames check the companion selectsurname.com site where there are to be found the history and genealogy for more than 500 surnames.
Return to Main Page