Surname Watrous - Meaning and Origin

Watrous: What does the surname Watrous mean?

The surname Watrous is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the medieval personal name Water. This first name was quite popular during the Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages, it was common to designate a person using his father’s name plus an “s” at the end, which signifies “son of”. So, a person whose father was called Water would have been known as "Waters" too. Watrous is a variant of Waters, and thus, it signifies "son of Water". The spelling variants of the name include Waterhouse, Watters, Waters, and Watrous. Additionally, the name could have geographical references associated with individuals living near a body of water. English people who migrated to America and other countries brought the surname Watrous with them leading to its spread worldwide. It should be noted, however, that the exact origins and meanings of surnames can often be difficult to trace definitively due to the changes in language and spelling over centuries.

Watrous: Where does the name Watrous come from?

Watrous is an uncommon surname in the modern world. It is most often associated with British or Canadian heritage, though there are plenty of other nations which could feasibly claim Watrous as part of their family tree.

In the United Kingdom and Canada, Watrous is most prominent in Ontario. This makes sense as it is believed the origins of Watrous can be traced to Scotland. Interestingly, the Watrous family name is said to have been derived from a habitational name from the parish of Our Lady of Watrous in Renfrewshire. Some historians also believe Watrous can be found in Normandy, France.

In America, Watrous is most commonly found in New York, California, Nevada and Massachusetts. Many of these individuals trace their ancestry back to the same source as their Canadian and British counterparts. In other parts of the world, Watrous is also present in the Netherlands, Australia and even in small African countries such as Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Ultimately, the Watrous family name is a rarity today yet its legacy lives on in the countries mentioned above. Whether based on an ancestral past, Watrous has made its mark on the world.

Variations of the surname Watrous

The surname Watrous is thought to be a French or Flemish form of the surname "Watteau". The variant spellings of this surname include Watters, Waterous, Watress, Wates, Waters, Wetress, and Waite. These variations in spelling often occurred due to regional dialect variations; sometimes people spelled their names the way it sounded to them when it was spoken by someone else.

The Watrous surname likely originated from the town of Wattrelos in Flanders, Belgium. The spelling of the surname in its original form is thought to be derived from the Dutch word “watte,” meaning a small water body or lake. The surname likely refers to someone from the town of Wattrelos.

Variations can also be found in spelling due to immigration to other countries. For example, Watrous may have become Waters when an immigrant to England altered the spelling to match the pronunciation of the English language. It is also possible that the spelling of Watrous was changed to Watters upon immigration to Scotland, in order to match the way Scots pronounce the letter "R" more closely.

The Watrous surname has historically been popular among the Welsh, French, Scottish, and English. In the early 1800s, the surname could be found in the United States, mainly in the northeast, such as Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. It is likely that members of the Watrous family moved to the United States from these countries.

Today, the Watrous surname is still quite common throughout Europe and the United States. While the spellings may vary, the heritage of the surname remains constant.

Famous people with the name Watrous

• Peter Watrous: former New York Times jazz and popular music critic
• Bernie Watrous: American jazz trombonist.
• Charley Watrous: American composer, conductor, musical arranger and jazz keyboardist.
• Son Watrous: an American stage actor best known for his performances in Damn Yankees productions Broadway.
• Tom Watrous: former professional baseball player for the New York Yankees.
• Jim Watrous: American country music singer.
• Morgan Watrous: American professional soccer player currently playing for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.
• Anissa Watrous: an American artist who works in New York City and is best known for her installations that explore the nature of human relationships.
• Fred Watrous: American film director and screenwriter in the 1920s and 1930s.
• John Watrous: Canadian quantum computing researcher, professor at the University of Waterloo.

Other surnames

Watros