Daily AncestorWat
Wat is a nickname for Walter, so the same person may be Wat in one record and Walter in another.
Wat is an old short form of Walter. Charlotte Yonge writes that the contraction was already in use in the time of William Rufus.
In a search, try both names. An index may list him only as Wat, while his baptism or marriage record gives Walter.
As seen in a recordEnglish parish burial register, 1603; his will names him Walter
Wat Gedney, laborer, buried 9 Oct. 1603
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Wat." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/nicknames/wat. Last checked 2026-10-15.