According to Brythonic Gaelic, the name "Watkins" means "little Walt or
Walter". The suffix "kin" is a diminutive of Walter. This information
was told to me by a professor of Welsh in a local junior college. He
has a PhD and is the head of the department. He gave me a book to read
about Welsh names that was fascinating. "Ap" means "son of" and is
probably the reason some Welsh names have changes--as "Powell" which
wasoriginally "Howell", but with the "Ap" was changed to "Powell" (Ap
Howell= "Powell".
SCHMID-KATHLEEN@worldnet.att.net says (via David Watkins), I am a direct
descendant of the Henry Watkins of Henrico County., VA. b. 1637/38 m.
1658 d. 1714/15. Based on information that was generously sent to me,
the connection back to England I seek to make is:
James Watkins b. ?, Wales, Great Britain, Came to the US aboard the
PHOENIX with Captain John Smith in 1608. James had a son named Henry
Watkins b. 1585, Wales, Great Britain; and Henry was the father of the
Henry Watkins which I referenced above.
James Watkins apparently had three sons who came to America. Per one
source: "Henry's brother's Peregrin and Daniel, had come to Accomack
County in 1621, Peregrin aboard the GEORGE. He was 20 years of age (his
muster of James City in 1624); 'Perregrim Watkinses, age 24, in the
GEORGE, 1621.' Daniel came aboard the CHARLES to James City County,
Virginia."
The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy
