top of page

For more information on individuals, click on those names that are underlined

WATCHORN

family tree

The gravestone of Thomas (1840-1909) and Sarah Watchorn (1840-1917)

The gravestone of Thomas (1840-1909) and Sarah Watchorn (1840-1917).

Thomas Watchorn
b. 1802
d. 1870
married
Sarah Manchester
b. 1821
d. 

Thomas Watchorn
b. Sept 1840
d. 28 Oct 1909
married
Sarah Freer
b. 1840
d. 8 Jan 1917

Elizabeth Ann

Emma

Jack (John)

Fred

William

Thomas

 

 

 

Benjamin Watchorn
b. 10 Aug 1880
d. 24 May 1954

married
6 Mar 1905

Edith Kate Bust
b. 7 May 1883
d. 28 Feb 1951

Benjamin and Edith Watchorn

Benjamin and Edith Watchorn.

May
b. 25 May 1910
d. 10 Feb 1989
married
11 June 1930
William
Frederick Anyan

b. 28 May 1908
d. 13 July 1977

Rachel Mary
b. 7 May 1946
married
Gordon Merry
b. 8 Dec 1920
d. 5 Oct 2011

Isobel Letty
b. 29 Sept 1940
married
Robert James
Tilley

b. 12 June 1938
d. 5 Mar 2015

Thomas
William Stuart

b. 17 Jan 1924
d. 20 Mar 2013
married
3 Nov 1945

Irene (Rene) Hague
b. 1 Feb 1923
d. 20 May 2011

Robert
b. 19 Aug 1948

Andrew
b. 31 Jan 1950

Brian
b. 16 July 1952

Katie Mary
b. 5 Mar 1913
d.

Isobel Sarah 
b. 14 Feb 1922
d. 11 Feb 2003
married
29 Nov 1941
John Nathaniel (Jack) Kettle

 b. 1919

d. 15 Jun 2010

Stuart
b. 13 Sept 1947

Paul
b. 30 Mar 1952

 

Ben Norman 
b. 19 Aug 1914
d. 17 Feb 1983
married
23 Jan 1947
June Ralph
b. 23 Jan 1922
d. 4 Nov 1972

Roland
b. 29 Jan 1919
d. 22 Jan 1979

Raymond
b. 27 Oct 1920
d. 18 Nov 1920

Graham
b. 24 Sept 1949

d. 18 May 2018

 

Watchorn
Family Name History

 

The horn part is derived from an old English name for a house – arne or oen, so that just as the name Whitehorn means 'white house' so Watchorn means 'watch house'. This kind of building was familiar in the middle ages when surnames began to stick.

Most towns had gates, and by each gate was a watch house, where an eye was kept on comings and goings, and any local dues or taxes were collected. Other surnames also derive from structures, including Church, Castle and Walls.

 

The original Watchorn probably lived in or near a watch house. Other suggestions are a little more imaginative and concern real horn blowers on battlements keeping watch. What is certain is that the name is found in England as early as 1506 in the reign of Henry VII.

      

Irene (Rene) [Hague] Watchorn, Robert Watchorn, Graham Watchorn, Isobel Anyan, Andrew Watchorn and June [Ralph] Watchorn

Irene (Rene) [Hague] Watchorn, Robert Watchorn, Graham Watchorn, Isobel Anyan, Andrew Watchorn and June [Ralph] Watchorn.

Isobel [Watchorn] Kettle and her mother Edith Watchorn at Mablethorpe beach, Lincolnshire, in 1946

Isobel [Watchorn] Kettle and her mother Edith Watchorn at Mablethorpe beach, Lincolnshire, in 1946.

Norman Watchorn and June Ralph who were married on 23 January 1947
From left: Andrew, Robert and Brian, sons of Stuart and Irene Watchorn

From left: Andrew, Robert and Brian, sons of Stuart and Irene Watchorn.

Jack and Isobel [Watchorn] Kettle with Imogen, Luke and Simon Tilley while visiting her sister and brother-in-law, May and Frank Anyan, at their home Lois Farm, Horsington

Jack and Isobel [Watchorn] Kettle with Imogen, Luke and Simon Tilley while visiting her sister and brother-in-law, May and Frank Anyan, at their home Lois Farm, Horsington.

Roland and Norman Watchorn with their girlfriends Maud and Margery

Roland and Norman Watchorn with their girlfriends Maud and Margery.

Rene [Hague] Watchorn with her sister-in-law Isobel [Watchorn] Kettle by the River Smite in May 1963

Rene [Hague] Watchorn with her sister-in-law Isobel [Watchorn] Kettle by the River Smite in May 1963.

Brothers Stuart (left) and Norman Watchorn in the army at a place called Issum in Germany
Stuart Watchorn (left) outside the last of his childhood family homes at Aslockton (later occupied by his sister Isobel [Watchorn] Kettle's family), with his nephew Stuart Kettle

Stuart Watchorn (left) outside the last of his childhood family homes at Aslockton (later occupied by his sister Isobel [Watchorn] Kettle's family), with his nephew Stuart Kettle.

Norman Watchorn and June Ralph who were married on 23 January 1947.

Brothers Stuart (left) and Norman Watchorn in the army at a place called Issum in Germany.

bottom of page