NameCensus.

UK surname

Walby

An occupational surname referring to someone who lived or worked near a wall.

In the 1881 census there were 272 people recorded with the Walby surname, ranking it #10,409 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 454, ranked #10,732, down from #10,409 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wigton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Burnley and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walby is 486 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.9%.

1881 census count

272

Ranked #10,409

Modern count

454

2016, ranked #10,732

Peak year

1999

486 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Walby had 272 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,409 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 454 in 2016, ranked #10,732.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 421 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Walby surname distribution map

The map shows where the Walby surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Walby surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Walby over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 171 #11,730
1861 historical 252 #9,804
1881 historical 272 #10,409
1891 historical 350 #9,836
1901 historical 360 #10,212
1911 historical 421 #8,950
1997 modern 475 #9,676
1998 modern 477 #9,955
1999 modern 486 #9,883
2000 modern 464 #10,187
2001 modern 450 #10,226
2002 modern 458 #10,295
2003 modern 438 #10,507
2004 modern 446 #10,391
2005 modern 438 #10,422
2006 modern 445 #10,319
2007 modern 435 #10,613
2008 modern 438 #10,668
2009 modern 451 #10,649
2010 modern 460 #10,719
2011 modern 468 #10,460
2012 modern 467 #10,384
2013 modern 458 #10,694
2014 modern 463 #10,659
2015 modern 464 #10,586
2016 modern 454 #10,732

Geography

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Where Walbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wigton, London parishes, Long Framlington and Datchworth, Knebworth, Aston, Bennington, Watton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Burnley, Northumberland, Cornwall and Tewkesbury. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Wigton Cumberland
3 London parishes London 3
4 Long Framlington Northumberland
5 Datchworth, Knebworth, Aston, Bennington, Watton Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
2 Burnley 004 Burnley
3 Northumberland 034 Northumberland
4 Cornwall 011 Cornwall
5 Tewkesbury 007 Tewkesbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Walby

These lists show first names that appear often with the Walby surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Walby

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Walby, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Walby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Walby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Walby is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Walby is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Walby falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Walby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Walby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Walby

The surname Walby is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from an Old English place name, which was likely a combination of the words "walh" meaning "foreigner" or "stranger" and "by" meaning a village or town.

The earliest known record of the name Walby dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Walby was John Walby, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195. These rolls were financial records kept by the English government, indicating that John Walby was a landowner or taxpayer in the county during that time.

Another notable figure was William Walby, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York in the late 13th century. He was known for his involvement in local politics and trade affairs.

In the 15th century, the name Walby appeared in the records of the University of Oxford, with a student named Robert Walby enrolling in 1457.

During the Tudor period, the spelling of the name sometimes varied, with variants like "Walbie" or "Walbye" appearing in historical documents. One such individual was Thomas Walbie, a clergyman who served as the rector of St. Michael's Church in Lincolnshire in the early 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name Walby was associated with the village of Walby in Cumbria, which may have been the original location from which the surname derived its name. A notable figure from this time was John Walby, a landowner and justice of the peace in Cumbria, who lived from 1620 to 1698.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Walby has been relatively uncommon, but it continued to appear in various parts of England, with some families tracing their roots back to the original place name or settlement that gave rise to the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Walby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walby surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hertfordshire leads with 46 Walbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.15x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 46 25.15x
Middlesex 36 1.36x
Cumberland 30 13.13x
Northumberland 27 6.84x
Herefordshire 21 19.30x
Surrey 16 1.24x
Durham 15 1.90x
Monmouthshire 15 7.82x
Lancashire 14 0.44x
Essex 12 2.29x
Brecknockshire 9 16.96x
Yorkshire 7 0.27x
Kent 4 0.44x
Cheshire 3 0.51x
Gloucestershire 3 0.58x
Warwickshire 3 0.45x
Glamorgan 2 0.43x
Hampshire 2 0.37x
Worcestershire 2 0.58x
Angus 1 0.41x
Bedfordshire 1 0.73x
Lincolnshire 1 0.24x
West Lothian 1 2.50x
Westmorland 1 1.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hatfield in Hertfordshire leads with 22 Walbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 592.99x.

Place Total Index
Hatfield 22 592.99x
Bennington 12 2307.69x
Whitchurch 12 1818.18x
Longframlington 10 2631.58x
Wigton 10 292.40x
Aspatria 9 409.09x
Elmstead 9 1071.43x
Llanelly 9 141.73x
East Rainton 8 522.88x
Liverpool 8 4.18x
Willesden 8 31.99x
Alnwick 7 103.09x
Limpsfield 7 564.52x
Mile End Old Town 7 16.71x
Trevethin 7 38.65x
Great Munden 6 1500.00x
St Marylebone London 5 3.53x
Westward 5 526.32x
Bethnal Green London 4 3.47x
Deptford St Paul 4 5.73x
Edmonton 4 18.71x
Islington London 4 1.56x
Maghull 4 305.34x
Reigate Borough 4 134.23x
Wakefield 4 19.82x
Wandsworth 4 15.66x
Waverton 4 909.09x
Abergavenny 3 41.78x
Aston 3 576.92x
Calveley 3 1200.00x
Chigwell 3 60.73x
Leamington Priors 3 18.23x
Llanrothall 3 1764.71x
Monmouth 3 58.94x
Andover 2 38.91x
Burradon In Rothbury 2 1818.18x
Clerkenwell London 2 3.19x
Credenhill 2 909.09x
Dawdon 2 20.60x
Gateshead 2 3.38x
Goodrich 2 294.12x
Gradley 2 119.76x
Great Hormead 2 425.53x
Llandaff 2 13.01x
Prendwick 2 4000.00x
Alnmouth 1 204.08x
Appleby St Lawrence 1 75.19x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 11.96x
Boston 1 7.77x
Bradford 1 1.57x
Bristol St Augustine 1 11.90x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 2.04x
Elswick 1 3.17x
Ganarew 1 625.00x
Great Amwell 1 54.64x
Hartlepool 1 8.91x
Kensington London 1 0.68x
Kirkliston 1 42.92x
Lambeth 1 0.43x
Leeds 1 0.67x
Llanover 1 15.27x
Llanthewy Rhytherch 1 312.50x
Low Holme 1 77.52x
Newton Park 1 10000.00x
Over Darwen 1 3.98x
Penshaw 1 42.19x
Skipton 1 12.09x
St Cuthbert W O Carleton 1 158.73x
St George Martyr 1 22.37x
Stanton 1 1666.67x
Tealing 1 144.93x
West Derby 1 1.09x
West Rainton 1 40.98x
Westbury On Severn East 1 8.50x
Weston Under Penyard 1 131.58x
Widdrington 1 106.38x
Woburn 1 84.03x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Walby surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Walby surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 25
John 17
George 16
Thomas 12
James 10
Henry 5
Alfred 4
Joseph 4
Robert 3
Benjamin 2
Charles 2
David 2
Edward 2
Richard 2
Willm. 2
Alfd. 1
Arthur 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jane 1
Jas.Geroge 1
Jno. 1
Mary 1
Reginald 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Timothy 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Field 1

FAQ

Walby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Walby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 272 people were recorded with the Walby surname. That placed it at #10,409 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Walby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 454 in 2016. That gives Walby a modern rank of #10,732.

What does the Walby surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who lived or worked near a wall.

What does the Walby map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Walby bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.