Legend has it that the Watkins family is descended from Welsh royalty, Cunedda Wledig, King of Gwynedd (North Wales). He was also known as the Imperator (Commander) or the Warrior. Cunedda Wledig was born around 385 most likely in Cardigan, Wales and died around 460 in Gwynedd, Wales. His ancestry was probably Roman. According to history, “Cunedda was the first ruler of the Welsh people of whom there is any authentic record.” He was renowned for his strength and courage, as well as his military skills which he demonstrated when leading many raiding parties when fighting against Irish occupation.
It was important for Cunedda Wledig to claim a powerful lineage in order to impress the masses so he proclaimed that he was descended from the son of the god Afallach. (This type of boast was actually common among his contemporaries. Alas, fake news is not a modern phenomenon.)
Afallach was the Celtic god of the underworld. He ruled Avalon which was “a peaceful island far away where apples grew.” Avalon, also known as Afallon, was the Celtic paradise.
(While there is no definitive proof that this King of North Wales was one of our ancestors, it is feasible that many Welsh people are descended from Cunedda Wledig and his nine sons. Our line can be traced in the Pedigree of the family of Watkins of Court-Robert to Sir Roger Vaughn who died in 1416. According to Wikipedia “in England and Wales pedigrees are officially recorded in the College of Arms, which has records going back to the Middle Ages, including pedigrees collected during roving inquiries by its heralds during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The purpose of these heraldic visitations was to register and regulate the use of coats of arms. Those who claimed the right to bear arms had to provide proof either of a grant of arms to them by the College, or of descent from an ancestor entitled to arms.”)
Fascinating!