Surname Wat - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wat: What does the surname Wat mean?
Wat is a surname of Scottish origin. It is derived from the personal name Walter, shortened to 'Wat'. The name Walter itself means "ruler of the army" from the Old German elements "wald", meaning rule, and "heri", meaning army. Therefore, the surname Wat may indirectly refer to 'ruler of the army'. It's important to note that surnames can often change over time and may have developed different meanings or associations in different cultures and societies.
Order DNA origin analysisWat: Where does the name Wat come from?
The last name Wat is a common Chinese surname that is still present in many countries across the world today. One of the most renowned countries where the Wat family is still prominent is Vietnam, where it is the fourth most-common surname in the country and is borne by over two million people. It is also very common in South Korea, where it is the 18th most common surname, in Malaysia, where it is the 7th most common surname, and in Thailand, where it is the 18th most common surname.
In the United States, the Wat family is relatively uncommon but steadily growing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 1,734 Wat family households in the U.S. in 2019, with the majority being concentrated in the West Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Additionally, the Wat name can still be found in the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Japan, and Canada.
In conclusion, the Wat surname is still present in many countries across the world today, including the United States, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Japan, and Canada. More specifically, the Wat family is much more prominent in Asia on the whole than it is in the United States, although its presence is gradually growing in this country as well.
Variations of the surname Wat
The surname Wat has variants and spellings in different cultures, languages, and countries. In some cases, this surname has been altered over time.
In England and Wales, the surname Wat is derived from the Old English given name Walter, which can mean army ruler or army strongman. Variations of Wat found in England and Wales include Watt, Watte, and Wattes.
In Scotland, Wat is thought to have originated as a shorten form of the surname MacQuattie, which is derived from the Gaelic Mac Uidhir, meaning son of Odhar. Variations of Wat found in Scotland include MacWat, Watt, Quint, and Quatts.
In Ireland, the surname Wat is derived from the Gaelic patronymic surname Mac Tadhg. This surname is an Anglicized form of the Irish Mac an Taidhg, meaning son of Tadgh or son of Tadhg. Variations of Wat found in Ireland include MacTaggart, MacTague, MacTeague, and MacTevic.
In Germany, the surname Wat is thought to be derived from the German given name Watte, which can mean ruler or leader. Variations of Wat found in Germany include Wasse, Watt, Watten, and Watten.
In France, the surname Wat is derived from the Old French given name Wate, which was a diminutive of the Germanic name Walter. Variations of Wat found in France include Wateau, Watel, and Wates.
Finally, in Italy the surname Wat is thought to have originated as a dialectal variation of the Italian given name Gatti, which can mean brave man. Variations of Wat found in Italy include Gatti, Gatt, and Gatto.
Famous people with the name Wat
- Jason Wat: Actor from South Africa, starred in films like Getroud Met Rugby and Hotel.
- Wat Tarrant: American artist who specialized in landscapes and portraits.
- Wat Tambor: Character from Star Wars, a Martian who is a “Foreman of the Techno Union”.
- Watkin Tudor Jones: South African rapper/musician, also known as Ninja, one half of the British rap group Die Antwoord.
- Wat Potter: English composer and one of the most important late Victorian organists.
- Wat Tyler: Leader of the Peasants' Revolt in England in 1381.
- Toshiro Mifune: Japanese actor, starred in the Akira Kurosawa films, including Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and Rashomon.
- Wat Travers: English author, particularly of military fiction and crime fiction.
- Wat Feng: Taiwanese actor and singer, best known for his roles in television series such as My Sweet Taipei and Why Why Love.
- Wat Misaka: Japanese-American basketball player, first ever nonwhite player in the NBAs.