A History of Watson Tartan
This name, which means the Son of Walter, comes through the diminutive Wat or Watt. The full form, Walterson, which has almost died out, was at one time common. A John Watson held lands in Edinburgh in 1392; John Watsoun was a juror at Lanark in 1432. By the 16th century, the name was widespread throughout the Lowlands. A Highland form was found in Moray and the Black Isle, where it appears as MacWatt; Donald and Gilbert Makwat, in 1455, acted as King’s Courier’s. The Caithness MacWatters is taken to be a form of the same name. Watt and Wattie have similar origin.
