Surname Watmore - Meaning and Origin
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Watmore: What does the surname Watmore mean?
The last name Watmore is an English surname of old French origin, deriving from the word 'wallemoor', which translates to mean 'forest moor'. This is an area of open, grassy land in the midst of a wooded area, which is often the home of game animals and birds, and provides an ideal setting for hunting. In the medieval period, the surname was most likely used to refer to those who lived on such land.
In England, records of the name go back to the 12th century, when a man called Ralph of Watmore was noted as a witness to a land grant in the county of Northumbria. In the 16th century, Watmore is mentioned with regard to a part of Surrey.
The name Watmore would typically have been borne by those living on or managing such lands; thus, it has probably always been a surname of considerable antiquity, deriving from a connection with the middle ages. The name was also noted in the New World, appearing in colonial documents from the early 1700s, most notably in the records of the first United States census, taken in 1790.
Today, the Watmore surname can be found in many countries around the world. In England, it remains one of the more popular names in the region of Northumbria, its stronghold of origin.
Order DNA origin analysisWatmore: Where does the name Watmore come from?
The last name Watmore is an English surname, originally from Yorkshire, in the north of England. It is still found in this region today, particularly around Leeds and Bradford. The name may have originated as a topographical surname, referring to someone who lived near a body of water. It may also have originally been a nickname for someone who liked to fish or to hunt wildfowl.
The surname Watmore can also be found in scattered locations in the rest of England, as well as in the countries of Australia, Canada and the United States. In Canada, it is particularly common in Ontario and British Columbia.
In the United States, the Watmore surname is most common in the western states. In the past decade, the highest concentrations have been found in California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as in some of the midwestern states such as Illinois and Michigan.
The surname Watmore is also found in other parts of the world such as New Zealand, the Caribbean, and in South America, with the countries of Argentina and Brazil having the highest concentration.
Variations of the surname Watmore
The surname Watmore is a locational surname derived from a place-name in Staffordshire, England. The variations in spelling and variant surnames originate from a period when people's spelling was not as standardized as it is today. Variations in spelling of the Watmore surname include: Watmor, Watmoor, Wetmore, and Witmore.
Variant surnames which have the same origin as Watmore include: Wattamore, Wattersmore, Whittemore, Whettemore, Wethersmore, Woolmore, and Worthmore. These variant surnames often originated from neighbouring parishes from which people emigrated to other parts of England, Scotland, Ireland and other parts of the world.
The Watmore surname is also linked to an old English locational name meaning "at the lake". As a result, variant surnames connected to this meaning include: Lakemore, Moorhoos, and St crimes. These variant surnames can be found in mainly Irish, Scottish and English records.
The Watmore surname is believed to have its origins in the early medieval period, meaning that it has been evolving for hundreds of years. This process of evolution has resulted in the Watmore surname giving rise to many different variant spellings and surnames over time.
Famous people with the name Watmore
- Drew Watmore: a product designer and technologist from Cleveland, Ohio. He is the founder and CEO of the artificial intelligence-powered search engine, Raftr.
- Claire Watmore: a professional golfer who is currently playing on the LPGA Tour.
- Josh Watmore: a former professional American football player who played wide receiver and return specialist for the Orlando Predators in 1998.
- Dan Watmore: an American writer, composer, and keyboardist, best known for his work with the musical project Freeskool.
- Ella Watmore: an English actress born in London, best known for her role as Nancy in the television series The Good Karma Hospital.
- Rebecca Watmore: an American lawyer, environmental health expert, and activist, best known for her work in the field of human rights.
- Frank Watmore: an American comedian and actor, best known for his roles in the films The Hangover and Knocked Up.
- Dylan Watmore: a Scottish footballer who currently plays as a forward for Dundee United.
- Jon Watmore: an English snooker player who competed in the world rankings.
- Chris Watmore: a British rowing coach and former international rower who represented Great Britain in the 2010 World Rowing Championships.