Surname Watje - Meaning and Origin
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Watje: What does the surname Watje mean?
The last name Watje is of Dutch origin. It is a combination of two words in the Dutch language - "wat" meaning "what" and "je" which is a familiar form of "you". Watje is a patronymic surname, indicating that the bearer of this name is the son or daughter of someone named "Wat". It is likely that Wat was the given name of the original bearer of this surname.
Watje is traditionally a surname found in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and parts of France. This surname could have multiple origins, including someone who worked in “Wat”, meaning a water wheel. It could also refer to someone who lived near or at a water wheel or pond. Alternatively, Watje was an occupational name, where the original bearer was someone who made pots and jugs, using the word "wat" to mean container or vessel.
Throughout the years, the spelling of Watje has varied greatly according to region. Variations of this surname include Wat, Watt, Wattie, Wattje, Watij, and Watty. This name could also have been altered to other unique spellings due to dialects or writing down of words as they were pronounced. Watje is an uncommon name today, but there are still many people living in the Netherlands and other countries who carry this surname.
Order DNA origin analysisWatje: Where does the name Watje come from?
The surname Watje is an archaic Dutch name that is rarely seen today. It formerly indicated a patronymic relation to the given name Watto, from an old Germanic given name “Wad” that was related to battle. It has been documented as far back as the 16th century and the King’s land of the United Provinces, making it one of the oldest according surnames of the Netherlands.
The spelling of the name has shifted over time as culture has changed. From Watz, the spelling evolved into Wattje, Waatje, Wate and Watje. In modern Dutch, it is most commonly found spelled as Watje.
Due to global migration, Watje is currently more commonly found in other parts of the world such as Australia, the United States and Canada, and South Africa. In Australia, the Watje name was first documented in Sydney in the early 1800s—during the convict era—when Ewaldus Watje, an immigrant from the Netherlands, and his wife Johanna, took up residence in the country. Through multi-generational assimilation, Watje families are now found spread throughout the nation.
In the United States, it is most commonly found among descendants of Dutch-American settlers who arrived in America during the mid-1700s or early 1800s, settling in states like New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Similarly, Watjes of German descent have also made their home in the United States.
In South Africa and Canada, the Watje name is equally as prominent. In South Africa, Watjes are believed to have come from the Netherlands when trading began in the country in the mid-1700s. Canadian Watjes are commonly of Dutch descent, with some of the melding of Scottish, Irish, and English ancestry.
Today, there is a Watje extended family around the world, making this an uncommon name with a rich global history.
Variations of the surname Watje
The surname Watje is of Dutch origin and is most commonly spelled Watje, but there are other variations that can be seen including Watjes, Vatje, Wats, Watghe, Vats, Vatghe, Wattjes, Watgrass, and Watghet.
The variation Watje is an occupational surname derived from the word 'wacht', which means 'watch' or 'guard'. This name was likely given to someone who worked as a guard, watchman, or town watch. This variation of the name may have later become the more common spelling Watje, or a more specific phrased surname like Watje de wacht, literally meaning ‘Watje the Watchman’.
The surnames Watjes and Wattjes are patronymic surnames, derived from the given name Wate or Watto. Watto is a medieval given name of Dutch origin and is a diminutive form of Wats, an early form of Wouter meaning 'powerful in battle'. It is believed Watjes may have also been derived from the given name Willem, whose diminutive was Willemet.
The other variations Wats, Vatje, Vats, Vatghe, Watghe, and Watghet, were likely originated from the Dutch term wacht. These variations likely appeared when Dutch people immigrated to other countries, as the spelling of their name was adapted to the new languages of their homes.
Overall, Watje is the most common spelling of the surname, and can be found with several other variation depending on different countries and languages.
Famous people with the name Watje
- Stef Watje: Stef Watje is a Dutch film producer and director of documentaires and television programs such as Salto Natale, Nos Jours Heureux and Jouw Vrouw, Mijn Vrouw
- Fyke Watje: Fyke Watje is a Leiden-based Dutch lawyer specializing in civil and labor law.
- Carry Watje: Carry Watje is a former Dutch professional cyclist who won the 1984 Dutch National Road Race Championships
- Hylkje Watje: Hylkje Watje was a Dutch educationist specializing in cultural variations in education.
- Lars Watje: Lars Watje is the Chief Financial Officer at GeoPost S.A., a global leader in express delivery solutions.
- Benne Watje: Benne Watje is a Dutch film director who has created multiple short films including Gods and the award-winning Noordenveld.
- Willem Watje: Willem Watje was a Dutch-Minister of Justice between 1872 and 1877.
- Janneke Watje: Janneke Watje is a famous Dutch architect who specializes in interior design and sustainability, with a focus on making buildings energy-efficient.
- Puiczer Watje: Puiczer Watje was a Dutch journalist, educator and civil servant who worked for the Ministry of Defense and the Dutch Public Broadcasting Foundation.
- Thea Watje: Thea Watje is a performance artist who creates live artworks that combine fashion, video, music and dance.