Know Your Name:

The Medieval English pronunciation of the Old German name WALTHER (mighty-army) was Water, but later became Walter.  The pet or shortened forms were Watt and Watte: which are common surnames today.  The addition of the Germanic suffix-kin-kyn was added to denote either "little Watt" or "son of Watt."

Adam filius (son of) Walterkins lived in Oxfordshire in 1200.  John Watkyns lived in County Suffolk in 1327.  John Wattkyn lived in Cheshire in 1552.  Edward Watkine of Yorkshire was at Oxford University in 1594.

Burke's General Armory describes the Watkins, Watkins and Watkyns arms.

In Virginia, Daniel and Peregrim Watkins arrived in 1621.  David Watkins was a cashier in the land office in 1624.  Morgan Watkins was noted in Henrico County in 1637.  John, Samuel, Nicholas, Thomas and Richard Watkins held land there in the period 1638-55.

John Watkins was noted in Massachusetts and Thomas, a tobacconist, was there in 1653.  David Watkins was noted in Connecticut in 1688.

Twelve of the spelling Watkins were officers in the American Revolutionary Army.