Watterson

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family name, best known as that of American cartoonist Bill Watterson, creator of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes
2. A surname borne by people such as the American comic artist Bill Watterson, who drew Calvin and Hobbes
3. The family name of an American cartoonist famous for the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, and of others who share it

Etymology: Walter began as a Germanic personal name, Waltheri, built from "walt" (power, authority) and "heri" (army), so the name meant something like "ruler of the army." Over time it was altered into the form Watterson, and the ending "-son" marks it as a patronymic, meaning "son of Walter." Surnames like this were common in England, where a family name could record a father's first name, so a Watterson was originally someone whose father was called Walter. The noun is used for a person bearing that surname.