Surname Watie - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Watie: What does the surname Watie mean?
The surname Watie is of Native American origin, specifically derived from the Cherokee tribe. The name is an anglicized version of the Cherokee word "Oowatie", which means "the stand of a tree." This surname was notably borne by Stand Watie, who was a leader of the Cherokee Nation and the only Native American to attain a general's rank in the Confederacy during the American Civil War. His original Cherokee name was "Degataga", meaning "he stands" which got anglicized to "Stand" and combined with "Oowatie" became "Stand Watie". Over time, many Cherokee families altered their surnames to better fit with the English-speaking majority's norms, while these names often still retained elements of their original language and cultural significance. So, Watie might identify descendants of the Cherokee tribe in the US.
Order DNA origin analysisWatie: Where does the name Watie come from?
The last name Watie is not as commonly found today as it was in the past. It is particularly associated with Native American heritage, specifically with the Cherokee Nation. As many of the Native American cultures were forcibly assimilated into the United States culture, the name became less popular. Currently, the last name is most commonly found in the southeastern states of the United States including Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Georgia. It can also be found in other parts of the country such as Alaska, Maryland, and Oregon. Additionally, it has been documented elsewhere including in Canada, Belgium, and France.
Historically, the last name Watie was most associated with the Cherokee Nation in what is now the southeastern United States. The Waties were part of a sizable Cherokee family that had a strong presence in the region, contributing to the establishment of many towns in the area. Rising to prominence, many of the prominent leaders of the tribe had this surname, including Mitsiuwatie (Red Jacket) and Stand Watie, a Confederate General during the American Civil War.
Today, although the last name Watie is still in use, its presence in mainstream society is diminished compared to the past. Despite this, those with the surname still proudly display their heritage and continue to play a vital role in the preservation of Cherokee history, culture, and language.
Variations of the surname Watie
The surname Watie is derived from a French personal name Wace, which is a diminutive form of the name Walter. This surname has many variants associated with it, including: Wacie, Wacy, Waite, Waites, Waits, Wait, Waitt, Watta, Watt, and Wattie.
Other spellings and surnames of the same origin for Watie include Waty, Wattie, Waigh, Waith, Wate, Wates, Waight, Waitson, Waitsons, and Wattson. Additionally, the variants Wafe, Waitey, Waity, Wayte, Waytt, Ways, Weat, Weyte, Whett, Whittey, Whyte and Whitte also possess similar origins.
The popularity of the surname Watta, Watie and their variants is mainly found throughout the United Kingdom, especially in Scotland. Watta is also found in the United States with a few occurrences in Canada.
The English surname Watt is derived from Walter, which is derived from the Germanic name Walthari, meaning “ruler of the army”. Wother, Wody, and Waud are all other equivalents of the name Walter. Watt is the surname that is most commonly associated with this name, found frequently in England and Scotland as well as countries such as Ireland and Canada.
Other surnames that have similar origins as Watie include Whipp, White, Whorwood and Weate.
In conclusion, the surname Watie has many associated variants and spellings, as well as other surnames of the same origin. Watie is most commonly found throughout the United Kingdom, the United States and a few occurrences in Canada. Other surnames that have similar origins as Watie include Watt, Whipp, White, Whorwood and Weate.
Famous people with the name Watie
- Stand Watie: Stand Watie was a leader of the Cherokee Nation during the American Civil War. He was a member of the original Treaty Party that signed the Treaty of New Echota in 1835. He was a fierce advocate of Cherokee sovereignty and fought tirelessly for the rights of the Cherokee Nation.
- Menawa Watie: Menawa Watie was an alias of Clad Philip, who was a leader of the Lower Creek Indians in the early 1800s. He was a major player in the Creek War of 1813-1814, leading forces against American settlers in the area.
- Zedekiah Watie: Zedekiah Watie was a Cherokee Nation leader in the early 19th century. He is most well-known for signing the Treaty of New Echota, which allowed for the removal of Cherokee from their ancestral lands in the southeastern US to present-day Oklahoma. He is also remembered for breaking with the traditionalists in the nation to form the “Treaty Party”, in support of the treaty.
- Elias Boudinot Watie: Elias Boudinot Watie was a Cherokee Nation politician in the mid-19th century. He was a prominent member of the Treaty Party that signed the Treaty of New Echota, and was a signatory of the treaty. He later served in Congress in the Cherokee Nation.
- William Watts Watie: William Watts Watie was a Cherokee Nation leader in the 19th century and was a major player in the Civil War. He was a cousin of Stand Watie, and fought on the Confederate side during the war. After the war, Watie returned to the Cherokee Nation.
- Saladin Watie: Saladin Watie was an artist of the Cherokee Nation who lived in the mid-20th century. He was most well-known for his use of bright colors in his oil paintings, depicting scenes of Cherokee history. He is also remembered for his activism for the rights of the Cherokee Nation.