Surname Waterton - Meaning and Origin
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Waterton: What does the surname Waterton mean?
Waterton is an English surname that is believed to have geographical origins, derived from a place name. The name is likely to have come from the town of Waterton in Lincolnshire, England. The name is composed of two Old English elements: "wæter," meaning "water", and "tun," meaning "farm" or "settlement". Thus, Waterton can be interpreted as "the farm or settlement near the water". This suggests that the original bearers of the surname were from or lived near such a location. Like many other surnames that originated from place names, Waterton may have been first used by people who moved from Waterton, as a means of identifying their place of origin.
Order DNA origin analysisWaterton: Where does the name Waterton come from?
The last name Waterton is commonly found in England, although it has spread throughout the English-speaking world. In the United Kingdom, it is primarily found in northern areas of England, as well as some parts of Scotland and Wales. It is also found throughout Europe, particularly in countries such as Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
In the United States, Waterton is most commonly found in the Midwest and the South, ranging from the west coast in places such as California and Washington, to the south in state s such as Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Outside of the English-speaking world, the name is found among countries such as Canada, Australia, and even as far away as New Zealand and South Africa.
In terms of overall numbers, the Waterton surname is not particularly common anywhere, although in England it ranks in the top 8000 last names. As it continues to spread throughout the English-speaking world, its numbers are likely to increase, but, for now, it remains somewhat rare.
Variations of the surname Waterton
The surname Waterton is derived from an old English name “waet” which means “river”. Variations of this surname have been spelled in numerous ways throughout the centuries, including Watterton, Wattertoun, Woterton, Wattirtoun, Watretoun, Waterson, Watterton, Weterton, Watlington, Watlingtone, Watley, Waterlou, Waterslou, Watheling, Wateling, Wateyn, Watherne, Watherson, Wathertoune, Watren and many others.
The original bearer may have been named for his proximity to a body of water, or a distinguishing feature of the landscape near his home. Alternatively, the name might have indicated a person who worked as a waterer of animals or gardens, or as a traveler who ferried people across rivers. Other sources suggest this name might have been originally derived from the Old English personal name Wæter. The surname Waterton is most commonly found in the British Isles and northwest Europe.
It is also found as a habitational name, derived from any of the various places named with the Old English pre 7th Century elements waeter, meaning ‘water’, plus ‘tun’, an enclosure, settlement. Examples of such places in England are Watterton in Bedfordshire, Watterton in Devon, and Wattirton in Suffolk. In Ireland the name is found in Kildare and Wexford, and in Scotland place names of Watterton in Dunbartonshire and Watterton in Midlothian.
Today the surname Waterton is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Famous people with the name Waterton
- Charles Waterton (1782-1865): British naturalist and explorer, known for his writings on wildlife conservation.
- Mary Waterton (1810-1888): British Victorian campaigner for animal rights and women's suffrage, sister of Charles Waterton.
- Luke Waterton (1841-1894): British artist and etcher, noted for his detailed etchings of Old Woking, Surrey.
- Richard Waterton (1880-1959): British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.
- Celia Waterton (born 1949): English author and international lecturer in Environmental Ethics and its practical application.
- Harry Waterton (born 1950): English author and environmentalist who has written widely on sustainability, practical agriculture, and bioregionalism.
- Michael Waterton (born 1951): British actor best known for his roles in television, films, and radio.
- Shane Waterton (born 1958): former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton Football Club in the 1950s.
- Henry Waterton (born 1971): English art historian and curator, author of several books on European painting.
- Richard Waterton (born 1975): British photographer and artist, known for his extensive work in cinematography, stills photography, and fine arts.