Surname Wattman - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wattman: What does the surname Wattman mean?
The surname Wattman is of Scottish origin. The name Watt is derived from the personal name Walter, meaning "ruler of the army," from the elements "wald" (rule) and "heri" (army). The suffix "man" indicates "servant of" or "associated with". Therefore, Wattman could be interpreted as "servant of Walter" or "associated with Walter".
However, another possible interpretation could be through occupation. The term "wattman" was used in the 19th century to refer to a driver or operator of a tram or streetcar, particularly in France and Belgium. Thus, it can indicate a family history of working in this profession.
Nevertheless, meanings of surnames can vary greatly depending on their cultural, regional, and historical contexts. Specific meanings can often only be determined through genealogical research. While these interpretations provide a general understanding, they may not hold true for all individuals bearing the Wattman surname.
Order DNA origin analysisWattman: Where does the name Wattman come from?
The last name Wattman is not particularly common today, but it does appear across the United States and beyond. In the United States, Nameberry's data shows that it is most common in Florida - where it is the 1,133rd most popular last name. The distribution is wide however; the surname is found in much higher numbers in small towns scattered across the country, such as Walhalla, South Carolina, Brodhead, Wisconsin, and Livingston, Montana.
Outside of the United States, Wattman is mostly found in English-speaking countries. In Canada, it is the 2,765th most popular name; in Australia, it is 1,115th; in New Zealand, it is the 1,702nd; and in the United Kingdom, it is the 25,645th most popular.
The Wattman family is likely of English origin, derived from the Old English given name of Wat, with "man" meaning "man." It could also be of German origin, derived from the given name of WIlliam with the surname “mann” meaning “man”.
Although the Wattman surname is not particularly popular today, it is still found in many places around the world.
Variations of the surname Wattman
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Wattman include Watman, Wattam, Wattemann, Wottman, and Wattmann, as well as variations on these, such as Wattamann and Wottenman.
The surname Wattman has German-based roots and is likely derived from the given names Walther or Walfar, both of which could have been altered when they were Anglicized. The surname Wattman is an occupational surname that, in its various forms, may have originated from a person who was formerly a vatman, a term used in olden times for a police officer who patrolled a specific area.
The words Wot, Wott, and Wotty were also used as part of surnames, and could have led to some of the above variants, including Wottman. Another variation, Wittenmann, originates from the German words wickel, widge, widgen, or wette, meaning a type of cloth or textiles. Other forms, such as Wattamann, may have come from an old German word for a vessel, watt, which is related to the modern English word vat.
As of the 2000 United States Census, Wattman was the 1411th most common surname in America, and is found mainly in Louisiana, Indiana, and Texas.
Overall, there are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Wattman, including Watman, Wattam, Wattemann, Wottman, Wattmann, Wattamann, Wottenman, Wittenmann, and more. These variants are likely derived from German given names, a vatman, Wot, Wott, Wotty, as well as words related to textiles and a vessel, watt.
Famous people with the name Wattman
- Ebony Wattman: a queer, feminist, disabled Afro-Latinx multimedia performer, model and spoken-word artist.
- Carl Wattman: a professional American football player who played five seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
- Yohance Wattman: an American pro basketball player for the Ironi Kiryat Ata in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
- Stephen Wattman: a British entrepreneur, producer, director and online publisher.
- René Wattman: a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from the Netherlands.
- Don Wattman: an American artist and print maker.
- Wanda Wattman: a poet, painter, and composer.
- Robert Wattman: a who served as a Republican member in the United States House of Representatives.
- Clay Wattman: an American ballerina, choreographer, and the principal artistic director of Ballet Pensacola.
- Kenneth Wattman: an American film and television producer.