Watkin is an English surname formed as a

diminutive A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment. A (abbreviated ) is a word-formati ...

of the name

Watt The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantify the rate of energy transfer. The watt is named after James Wa ...

(also Wat), a popular

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English p ...

given name itself derived as a pet form of the name

Walter Walter may refer to: People * Walter (name), both a surname and a given name * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968) * Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 19 ...

. First found in a small Welsh village in 1629. Within the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

it is associated with being a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

surname. It may refer to: ;People *

Arthur Watkin Arthur Watkin (30 July 1895 – 27 August 1972) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Stoke. His brother Frank Watkin was also a footballer who played for Stoke. Career Watkin was born in Burslem and joined Stoke in ...

, English footballer * Billy Watkin, English footballer * Cyril Watkin, English footballer *

Edward Watkin Sir Edward William Watkin, 1st Baronet (26 September 1819 – 13 April 1901) was a British Member of Parliament and railway entrepreneur. He was an ambitious visionary, and presided over large-scale railway engineering projects to fulfil his b ...

, Victorian railway chairman ** Edward Watkin (disambiguation) *

Evan Watkin Evan Allan Watkin (born 2 July 1951) is a New Zealand One-day International and Test cricket umpire. He was born in Te Aroha, Waikato. He has umpired 3 Test matches, all played by New Zealand in Wellington and Napier. His debut Test as an u ...

, New Zealand cricket umpire * Frank Watkin, English footballer * George Watkin, English footballer * Louise Watkin, British paralympic swimmer *

Pierre Watkin Pierre Frank Watkin (December 29, 1887 – February 3, 1960) was an American character actor best known for playing distinguished authority figures throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood. He is best remembered for his roles of Mr. Skinner the b ...

, an American actor * Steve Watkin, English cricketer *

Steve Watkin (footballer) Stephen Watkin (born 16 June 1971) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is best known for the goal he scored to secure a 2–1 victory for Wrexham over Arsenal in a FA Cup third round tie in 1992. At the time A ...

, Welsh footballer *

Thomas Glyn Watkin The Reverend Professor Thomas Glyn Watkin KC FLSW (born 1952) is a Welsh lawyer and the first person to be appointed to the post of First Legislative Counsel to the Welsh Government, taking up his post in April 2007. First Legislative Counsel Wo ...

, Welsh lawyer *

Watkin Tench Lieutenant General Watkin Tench (6 October 1758 – 7 May 1833) was a British marine officer who is best known for publishing two books describing his experiences in the First Fleet, which established the first European settlement in Australia in ...

, British marine officer in Australia's

First Fleet The First Fleet was a fleet of 11 ships that brought the first European and African settlers to Australia. It was made up of two Royal Navy vessels, three store ships and six convict transports. On 13 May 1787 the fleet under the command ...

Watkin Tudor Jones Watkin Tudor Jones (born 26 September 1974), better known by his stage names Ninja and Max Normal, is a South African rapper, songwriter, record producer, performance artist, and director. Jones found international success as a member of Die An ...

, also known as Ninja, South African rapper *

Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 6th Baronet Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 6th Baronet (22 May 1820 – 9 May 1885) was a Welsh Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1841 to 1885. Biography Williams-Wynn was born at the family's London property, the eldest son of ...

, Welsh politician * William Thompson Watkin (1836–1888), English archaeologist *

William Ward Watkin William Ward Watkin (January 21, 1886 – June 24, 1952) was an architect primarily practicing in Houston, Texas. He was the founder of the Architecture Department of Rice University in 1912, and remained on the Rice faculty until his death ...

, American architect

See also