NameCensus.

UK surname

Waldock

A surname derived from a place name referring to a walled or fortified area.

In the 1881 census there were 499 people recorded with the Waldock surname, ranking it #6,784 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 904, ranked #6,283, up from #6,784 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wymondley, Great, London parishes and Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, North Hertfordshire and Daventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waldock is 946 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.2%.

1881 census count

499

Ranked #6,784

Modern count

904

2016, ranked #6,283

Peak year

1998

946 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waldock had 499 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,784 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 904 in 2016, ranked #6,283.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 831 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Waldock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waldock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waldock 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 268 #8,326
1861 historical 209 #11,596
1881 historical 499 #6,784
1891 historical 586 #6,517
1901 historical 732 #6,045
1911 historical 831 #5,313
1997 modern 923 #5,853
1998 modern 946 #5,928
1999 modern 929 #6,054
2000 modern 923 #6,066
2001 modern 900 #6,089
2002 modern 913 #6,136
2003 modern 868 #6,239
2004 modern 887 #6,165
2005 modern 830 #6,422
2006 modern 831 #6,419
2007 modern 842 #6,419
2008 modern 857 #6,381
2009 modern 871 #6,445
2010 modern 888 #6,463
2011 modern 880 #6,441
2012 modern 869 #6,416
2013 modern 898 #6,353
2014 modern 906 #6,343
2015 modern 910 #6,282
2016 modern 904 #6,283

Geography

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Where Waldocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wymondley, Great, London parishes, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton, Ashwell and Hitchin. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, North Hertfordshire, Daventry and Leeds. 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 Wymondley, Great Hertfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton Hertfordshire
4 Ashwell Hertfordshire
5 Hitchin Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 064 County Durham
2 North Hertfordshire 002 North Hertfordshire
3 North Hertfordshire 004 North Hertfordshire
4 Daventry 006 Daventry
5 Leeds 069 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waldock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waldock

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Waldock, 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 Waldock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Waldock 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Waldock 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

Waldock is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waldock falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Waldock

The surname Waldock originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "weald" meaning forest or wooded area, and "ac" meaning oak tree. This suggests that the name Waldock likely referred to someone who lived near or in a wooded area with oak trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Waldock can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in 1195, where it was spelled "Waldac." This indicates that the name was present in England as early as the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records as "Waldok" and "Waldoke." These variations in spelling were common during this period, as standardized spellings had not yet been established.

The Waldock name has its roots in the southeastern regions of England, particularly in Essex and Suffolk. Some historical records suggest that the name may have originated from a place called Waldocks, which no longer exists but was likely a small hamlet or settlement in one of these counties.

One notable figure bearing the Waldock surname was Sir Ralph Waldock (1569-1630), a prominent English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Colchester in the early 17th century.

Another influential individual was Thomas Waldock (1683-1748), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, from 1737 until his death.

In the 18th century, the Waldock family had a presence in the town of Ipswich, Suffolk. Records show that a John Waldock (1712-1789) was a successful merchant and landowner in the area.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Charles Waldock (1820-1892), a prominent British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Dramatic College and the Freemasons' Hall.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the contributions of Sir Humphrey Waldock (1904-1981), a renowned international lawyer and scholar who served as the President of the International Court of Justice from 1973 to 1976.

While the surname Waldock may not be as widespread as some other English names, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waldock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waldock 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 236 Waldocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 70.20x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 236 70.20x
Middlesex 59 1.21x
Cambridgeshire 54 17.48x
Bedfordshire 31 12.28x
Huntingdonshire 20 20.65x
Surrey 18 0.76x
Northumberland 17 2.34x
Yorkshire 15 0.31x
Durham 13 0.90x
Sussex 10 1.22x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.37x
Essex 7 0.73x
Lincolnshire 3 0.38x
Kent 2 0.12x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.18x
Northamptonshire 1 0.22x
Oxfordshire 1 0.33x
Royal Navy 1 1.72x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashwell in Hertfordshire leads with 98 Waldocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3712.12x.

Place Total Index
Ashwell 98 3712.12x
Great Wymondley 35 7777.78x
Weston 19 1172.84x
Meldreth 18 1500.00x
Bothal Demesne 17 489.91x
Hornsey 17 27.56x
Hitchin 11 72.51x
Landbeach 11 1294.12x
Hunslet 10 13.27x
Lambeth 10 2.35x
Tetworth 10 2941.18x
Finchley 9 48.13x
Islington London 9 1.90x
Melbourn 9 299.00x
Cockfield 8 396.04x
East Barnet 8 119.94x
St Albans 8 116.11x
St Ives 8 159.36x
Walkern 8 567.38x
Wrestlingworth 8 740.74x
Brighton 6 3.62x
Croydon Cum Clapton 6 750.00x
Great Chesterford 6 394.74x
Redbourn 6 163.49x
Abbots Langley 5 100.20x
Bedford St Mary 5 76.92x
Clerkenwell London 5 4.34x
Crook Billy Row 5 26.91x
Luton 5 11.44x
St Andrew Holborn 5 30.25x
Baldock 4 126.58x
Biggleswade 4 48.37x
Bovingdon 4 227.27x
Bulwell 4 27.99x
Hinxton 4 701.75x
Kensington London 4 1.48x
Langford 4 192.31x
Newnham 4 2105.26x
Nottingham St Mary 4 2.35x
Sarratt 4 341.88x
Wortley In Bramley 4 10.45x
Bennington 3 312.50x
Camberwell 3 0.96x
Hertford St Andrew 3 72.29x
St Martin In Fields 3 10.27x
St Pancras London 3 0.76x
Stevenage 3 57.58x
Wainfleet All Sts 3 132.16x
Bassingbourn 2 44.05x
Battersea 2 1.11x
Bishop Stortford 2 17.81x
Braughing 2 116.28x
East Grinstead 2 17.18x
Great Amwell 2 59.35x
Great Munden 2 273.97x
Hemingford Grey 2 135.14x
Lee 2 8.28x
Potton 2 59.70x
Bedford St Paul 1 5.77x
Chelsea London 1 0.68x
Chrishall 1 104.17x
Fulbourn 1 33.78x
Hackney London 1 0.37x
Hatfield 1 14.68x
Henlow 1 64.10x
Hertford St John 1 19.96x
Hove 1 2.77x
Kingston On Thames 1 1.75x
Leeds 1 0.37x
Lichfield St Mary 1 21.05x
Ockham 1 108.70x
Oxford St Martin 1 204.08x
Paddington London 1 0.56x
Portsmouth 1 4.34x
Royal Navy 1 2.01x
South Mimms 1 14.95x
Stapleford 1 107.53x
Stotfold 1 20.70x
Watford 1 3.84x
Welwyn 1 34.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 18
Annie 11
Alice 10
Eliza 10
Emily 10
Hannah 9
Susan 9
Emma 8
Jane 7
Ellen 5
Fanny 5
Ada 4
Ann 4
Edith 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Florence 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Matilda 3
Minnie 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Rosa 2
Ruth 2
Birdie 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Elsie 1
Emiline 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Janetta 1
Julia 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 23
James 21
George 19
Thomas 17
Charles 14
Henry 14
Joseph 10
Edward 7
Ernest 5
Daniel 4
David 4
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Isaac 3
Walter 3
Benjamin 2
Ezra 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Sidney 2
Allen 1
Bertram 1
Cyrus 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.W.M. 1
Geo.J. 1
Geo.Rbt. 1
Gersham 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Jeffery 1
Jeffrey 1
Jesse 1
Jessey 1
Josiah 1
Julias 1
Julius 1
Noah 1
Octavious 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
R.W.C. 1

FAQ

Waldock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waldock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 499 people were recorded with the Waldock surname. That placed it at #6,784 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waldock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 904 in 2016. That gives Waldock a modern rank of #6,283.

What does the Waldock surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to a walled or fortified area.

What does the Waldock map show?

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