NameCensus.

UK surname

Walcott

Derived from a place name meaning "cottage or shelter in the forest" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 56 people recorded with the Walcott surname, ranking it #25,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 629, ranked #8,388, up from #25,733 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrow, Brent and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walcott is 639 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1023.2%.

1881 census count

56

Ranked #25,733

Modern count

629

2016, ranked #8,388

Peak year

2014

639 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Walcott had 56 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,733 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 629 in 2016, ranked #8,388.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 71 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Walcott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Walcott surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Walcott 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 52 #23,915
1861 historical 71 #24,765
1881 historical 56 #25,733
1891 historical 42 #31,018
1901 historical 37 #30,009
1911 historical 37 #29,263
1997 modern 495 #9,370
1998 modern 506 #9,501
1999 modern 508 #9,535
2000 modern 489 #9,788
2001 modern 470 #9,906
2002 modern 515 #9,443
2003 modern 507 #9,391
2004 modern 535 #9,041
2005 modern 531 #9,034
2006 modern 547 #8,855
2007 modern 563 #8,739
2008 modern 568 #8,753
2009 modern 589 #8,713
2010 modern 621 #8,553
2011 modern 601 #8,682
2012 modern 606 #8,541
2013 modern 626 #8,448
2014 modern 639 #8,371
2015 modern 630 #8,394
2016 modern 629 #8,388

Geography

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Where Walcotts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrow, Brent, Haringey, Barking and Dagenham and Sedgemoor. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrow 028 Harrow
2 Brent 034 Brent
3 Haringey 028 Haringey
4 Barking and Dagenham 004 Barking and Dagenham
5 Sedgemoor 002 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Walcott

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Walcott

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Walcott, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Walcott surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Walcott household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Walcott is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Walcott is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Walcott falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Walcott is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Walcott

The surname Walcott has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "walh" meaning "foreigner" or "stranger" and "cot" meaning "cottage" or "small dwelling." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a cottage or settlement inhabited by foreigners or settlers from another region.

The name is thought to have first appeared in the county of Shropshire, where it was associated with the village of Walcot near the town of Shrewsbury. Early records from the 13th century mention individuals with variations of the name, such as Walter de Walecote and William de Walcote.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Walcott can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled for King Edward I. The rolls mention a John de Walcote from Shropshire, indicating the presence of the name in that area during that time period.

In the 14th century, the Walcott name appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, which were records of tax payments. These rolls mention a Richard de Walcote, suggesting the name had spread to neighboring counties by that point.

During the 15th century, the name Walcott gained prominence with the emergence of notable individuals bearing the surname. One such figure was Sir John Walcott (c. 1420-1499), a member of Parliament and landowner in Somerset. His descendants continued to play influential roles in the region for several generations.

Another significant bearer of the Walcott name was John Walcott (1626-1667), an English theologian and minister who served as the rector of St. Martin's Church in Canterbury. He was known for his writings on religious topics and his involvement in the Church of England during the turbulent times of the English Civil War and the Interregnum.

In the 18th century, the Walcott name gained further recognition with the birth of John Walcott (1754-1831), an English naturalist and entomologist. He made significant contributions to the study of insects and published several works on the subject, including "Descriptions of Petra Insectorum" and "Illustrations of British Entomology."

The 19th century saw the emergence of Benjamin Walcott (1822-1894), an English artist and engraver known for his landscape paintings and etchings depicting rural scenes in Britain. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and are held in collections around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Walcott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walcott 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. Middlesex leads with 15 Walcotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.75x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 15 2.75x
Hampshire 11 9.83x
Berkshire 4 9.76x
Norfolk 4 4.76x
Surrey 4 1.50x
Sussex 4 4.35x
Gloucestershire 3 2.80x
Pembrokeshire 3 17.29x
Durham 2 1.23x
Lancashire 2 0.31x
Warwickshire 2 1.45x
Worcestershire 2 2.81x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Christchurch in Hampshire leads with 5 Walcotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 205.76x.

Place Total Index
Christchurch 5 205.76x
Hampstead London 5 58.82x
Cookham 4 312.50x
Holdenhurst 4 136.05x
Kensington London 4 13.18x
Litcham 4 2666.67x
Tenby St Mary In 3 340.91x
Alvechurch 2 666.67x
Aston 2 5.27x
Binsted 2 465.12x
Broadwater 2 94.79x
Camberwell 2 5.73x
Clifton 2 36.97x
Great Lever 2 289.86x
Hanwell 2 206.19x
Hove 2 49.51x
St Pancras London 2 4.55x
Stranton 2 36.56x
Lambeth 1 2.10x
St George Hanover 1 14.03x
Stanwell 1 250.00x
Stapleton 1 49.26x
Wandsworth 1 19.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Fanny 4
Jane 3
Mary 3
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Lucy 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Charlotte 1
Daisy 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Frances 1
Jean 1
Juden 1
Louie 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Edmund 2
Henry 2
Thomas 2
William 2
Arthur 1
Colpoys 1
Frederick 1
Lawrence 1
Leslie 1
Lyons 1
Patrick 1
Pelham 1
Robert 1
Stanley 1
Stephen 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Walcott households.

FAQ

Walcott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Walcott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 56 people were recorded with the Walcott surname. That placed it at #25,733 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Walcott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 629 in 2016. That gives Walcott a modern rank of #8,388.

What does the Walcott surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "cottage or shelter in the forest" in Old English.

What does the Walcott map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Walcott 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.