NameCensus.

UK surname

Walden

From an English place name meaning "valley of the Britons," or from a German place name meaning "forested valley."

In the 1881 census there were 2,163 people recorded with the Walden surname, ranking it #2,052 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,843, ranked #2,365, down from #2,052 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Walgrave, London parishes and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Daventry, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walden is 3,106 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.4%.

1881 census count

2,163

Ranked #2,052

Modern count

2,843

2016, ranked #2,365

Peak year

1911

3,106 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Walden had 2,163 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,052 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,843 in 2016, ranked #2,365.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,106 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Walden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Walden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Walden 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 1,324 #2,169
1861 historical 1,387 #2,070
1881 historical 2,163 #2,052
1891 historical 2,464 #1,918
1901 historical 2,768 #2,008
1911 historical 3,106 #1,677
1997 modern 2,964 #2,184
1998 modern 3,053 #2,204
1999 modern 3,064 #2,208
2000 modern 2,991 #2,253
2001 modern 2,922 #2,253
2002 modern 2,968 #2,265
2003 modern 2,911 #2,257
2004 modern 2,923 #2,247
2005 modern 2,835 #2,291
2006 modern 2,824 #2,301
2007 modern 2,813 #2,326
2008 modern 2,817 #2,340
2009 modern 2,844 #2,375
2010 modern 2,918 #2,365
2011 modern 2,914 #2,335
2012 modern 2,853 #2,340
2013 modern 2,874 #2,367
2014 modern 2,922 #2,334
2015 modern 2,885 #2,340
2016 modern 2,843 #2,365

Geography

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Where Waldens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Walgrave, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Fulham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Daventry, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Derbyshire Dales 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 Walgrave Northamptonshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Fulham London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Daventry 005 Daventry
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 003 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Derbyshire Dales 005 Derbyshire Dales
5 Tewkesbury 001 Tewkesbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Walden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Walden

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Walden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Walden 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Walden is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Walden is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Walden falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Walden 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 Walden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Walden

The surname Walden has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words 'weald' meaning 'forest' and 'denu' meaning 'valley', referring to people who lived in a wooded valley or forest clearing.

Walden is a locational surname, meaning it originated from a place name. The earliest recorded instance of the name Walden appears in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in 1166, where a person named William de Walda is mentioned. This early spelling variation suggests the name was likely derived from Walden, a town in Essex.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Walden. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as Waldene in Hertfordshire and Waleden in Essex, indicating the name's geographical origins.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Walden was Roger de Walden, who lived in the late 13th century and served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1395 to 1397. Another notable figure was Sir William de Walden, who was born in the late 13th century and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1370.

During the 15th century, the surname Walden appeared in various spellings, including Waldeyn, Waldene, and Walden. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Thomas Walden (c. 1420 - c. 1490), an English priest and theologian who served as the Provincial Minister of the Carmelite Order in England.

In the 16th century, the surname Walden continued to be found in various parts of England. One notable figure was Ralph Walden (c. 1516 - 1586), an English politician and Member of Parliament who represented Huntingdonshire in the House of Commons during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Over the centuries, the surname Walden has been associated with various places in England, including Walden in Essex, Saffron Walden in Essex, and Walden in Hertfordshire. While the name has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has been borne by several notable individuals across various fields, reflecting its enduring presence in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Walden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walden 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 363 Waldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.70x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 363 1.70x
Northamptonshire 255 12.67x
Surrey 210 2.01x
Warwickshire 164 3.04x
Hampshire 127 2.90x
Essex 120 2.84x
Dorset 82 5.84x
Norfolk 80 2.43x
Kent 77 1.05x
Lincolnshire 61 1.78x
Sussex 59 1.64x
Yorkshire 59 0.28x
Leicestershire 53 2.23x
Oxfordshire 49 3.71x
Lancashire 47 0.19x
Somerset 43 1.25x
Berkshire 40 2.49x
Channel Islands 35 5.52x
Staffordshire 34 0.47x
Monmouthshire 25 1.62x
Gloucestershire 24 0.57x
Bedfordshire 19 1.72x
Nottinghamshire 18 0.62x
Buckinghamshire 16 1.24x
Derbyshire 15 0.45x
Suffolk 14 0.54x
Glamorgan 13 0.35x
Hertfordshire 11 0.75x
Devon 10 0.22x
Cheshire 9 0.19x
Brecknockshire 8 1.87x
Durham 8 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 8 1.88x
Lanarkshire 8 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.44x
Herefordshire 5 0.57x
Wiltshire 5 0.26x
Worcestershire 3 0.11x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.10x
Midlothian 2 0.07x
Royal Navy 2 0.78x
Shropshire 2 0.11x
Cornwall 1 0.04x
Rutland 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 32 Waldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.34x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 32 2.34x
Walgrave 30 678.73x
Walton On Thames 29 60.59x
Christchurch 28 29.45x
Hackney London 28 2.33x
Rogate 24 331.95x
West Ham 24 2.57x
Battersea 23 2.92x
Clerkenwell London 23 4.55x
Hammersmith London 23 4.36x
Peterborough 23 15.79x
St Helier 23 11.15x
Birmingham 21 1.17x
Mile End Old Town 21 6.22x
St Pancras London 21 1.22x
Caundle Stourton 20 729.93x
St Marylebone London 20 1.75x
Wellingborough 20 19.77x
Fulham London 19 6.12x
Aston 18 1.21x
Bermondsey 18 2.83x
Great Burstead 18 117.11x
Kingsthorpe 18 80.50x
Lutterworth 18 124.48x
Newington 18 2.28x
Bethnal Green London 17 1.83x
Chiswick 17 14.54x
Hornton 17 463.22x
Lambeth 17 0.91x
Northampton Priory St 17 14.08x
Pitsford 17 415.65x
Isleworth 16 16.82x
Milton In Gravesend 16 14.62x
Shotteswell 16 898.88x
Croydon 15 2.59x
Islington London 15 0.72x
Sedgeford 15 269.30x
Selby 15 33.86x
Shoreditch London 15 1.62x
Barking 14 11.33x
Canewdon 14 265.65x
Spalding 14 20.62x
Dartford 13 17.42x
Portsea 13 1.51x
Wokingham 13 35.47x
Millbrook 12 10.87x
Northampton St Giles 12 15.66x
Wigston Magna 12 38.14x
Holdenhurst 11 9.56x
Hunstanton 11 99.01x
Irchester 11 88.07x
Northampton St Sepulchre 11 10.75x
Chardstock 10 102.88x
Cubbington 10 139.08x
Horley 10 432.90x
Leicester St Margaret 10 1.73x
Netherbury 10 86.13x
Newport 10 13.55x
Poplar London 10 2.48x
St Martin In Fields 10 7.81x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 1.31x
Alverstoke 9 5.67x
Carisbrooke 9 14.79x
Chapel Brampton 9 526.32x
Cold Ashby 9 362.90x
Foleshill 9 15.86x
Heston 9 12.67x
Iver 9 53.99x
Mansfield 9 9.02x
Southampton St Mary 9 3.26x
Stamford All Sts 9 47.00x
Titchwell 9 1034.48x
Woolwich 9 3.34x
Beauchamp Roothing 8 473.37x
Chelsea London 8 1.24x
Coventry St Michael 8 4.62x
Llangattock 8 22.96x
Neithrop 8 18.02x
Sedgley 8 2.98x
Trevethin 8 5.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 140
Elizabeth 85
Sarah 73
Ellen 51
Emma 43
Eliza 33
Jane 33
Alice 32
Annie 32
Emily 31
Ann 29
Louisa 21
Caroline 19
Maria 18
Martha 18
Charlotte 17
Florence 16
Ada 15
Kate 15
Amelia 14
Edith 14
Fanny 13
Agnes 12
Clara 12
Hannah 12
Catherine 11
Harriet 11
Rose 11
Frances 10
Harriett 10
Margaret 10
Ruth 9
Susan 9
Anna 8
Eleanor 8
Isabella 7
Lucy 7
Sophia 7
Rebecca 6
Susannah 6
Anne 5
Jessie 5
Louise 5
Matilda 5
Betsy 4
Ethel 4
Helen 4
Henrietta 4
Laura 4
Minnie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 133
George 98
John 98
James 63
Thomas 60
Henry 49
Charles 42
Edward 42
Joseph 42
Arthur 37
Alfred 32
Frederick 29
Robert 23
Albert 17
Walter 16
Harry 15
Samuel 15
Daniel 12
Edwin 12
Herbert 12
Richard 12
Ernest 10
David 8
Francis 8
Frank 8
Wm. 7
Chas. 6
Mark 4
Edmund 3
Fred 3
Geo. 3
Josiah 3
Keith 3
Sidney 3
Whanner 3
Benjamin 2
Evan 2
G. 2
Jeremiah 2
Jesse 2
Jim 2
Lewis 2
Oliver 2
Patrick 2
Philip 2
Robinson 2
Tom 2
W. 2
B. 1
Edgar 1

FAQ

Walden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Walden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,163 people were recorded with the Walden surname. That placed it at #2,052 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Walden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,843 in 2016. That gives Walden a modern rank of #2,365.

What does the Walden surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "valley of the Britons," or from a German place name meaning "forested valley."

What does the Walden map show?

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