NameCensus.

UK surname

Walford

A topographic surname derived from the Old English "wealf+ford" meaning the ford where wolves crossed a river.

In the 1881 census there were 1,836 people recorded with the Walford surname, ranking it #2,369 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,373, ranked #2,762, down from #2,369 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Kidderminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Sedgemoor and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walford is 2,603 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.2%.

1881 census count

1,836

Ranked #2,369

Modern count

2,373

2016, ranked #2,762

Peak year

2000

2,603 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Walford had 1,836 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,369 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,373 in 2016, ranked #2,762.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,397 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Walford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Walford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Walford 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 1,329 #2,161
1861 historical 1,280 #2,227
1881 historical 1,836 #2,369
1891 historical 1,981 #2,329
1901 historical 2,202 #2,453
1911 historical 2,397 #2,138
1997 modern 2,423 #2,597
1998 modern 2,581 #2,532
1999 modern 2,591 #2,539
2000 modern 2,603 #2,519
2001 modern 2,511 #2,554
2002 modern 2,526 #2,593
2003 modern 2,465 #2,597
2004 modern 2,456 #2,609
2005 modern 2,418 #2,617
2006 modern 2,427 #2,606
2007 modern 2,422 #2,636
2008 modern 2,384 #2,686
2009 modern 2,478 #2,668
2010 modern 2,515 #2,684
2011 modern 2,483 #2,687
2012 modern 2,394 #2,718
2013 modern 2,444 #2,718
2014 modern 2,458 #2,721
2015 modern 2,410 #2,738
2016 modern 2,373 #2,762

Geography

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Where Walfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Kidderminster and Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Sedgemoor and Wiltshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Kidderminster Worcestershire
5 Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 035 Shropshire
2 Sedgemoor 008 Sedgemoor
3 Shropshire 004 Shropshire
4 Shropshire 031 Shropshire
5 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Walford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Walford

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Walford is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Walford is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Walford 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 Walford 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 Walford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Walford

The surname Walford originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "wald" meaning a wood or grove, and "ford" referring to a shallow crossing point of a river or stream. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who resided near a wooded ford or crossing.

Walford as a place name can be found recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Entries for villages named Walford are listed in several counties, including Somerset, Herefordshire, and Shropshire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Walford was Robert de Walford, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1189. The Pipe Rolls were financial records kept by the English Treasury.

During the 13th century, a family by the name of Walford held lands in the parish of Rushbury in Shropshire. Thomas de Walford, born around 1250, was recorded as the lord of the manor of Walford in Rushbury during this time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Walforde, Waleforde, and Walforde. John Walforde, born circa 1320, was a member of the gentry class and held lands in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

Transitioning into the Renaissance period, Sir Thomas Walford (1504-1578) was a notable figure. He served as the Sheriff of Shropshire in 1547 and was a Member of Parliament for Shropshire in 1559.

Another prominent individual was Sir Knighton Walford (1570-1638), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Shropshire in the early 17th century. He was knighted by King James I in 1603.

Moving into the 18th century, Edward Walford (1725-1797) was an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Winkfield in Berkshire. He published several works on theology and history during his lifetime.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Walford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walford 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 275 Walfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.53x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 275 1.53x
Essex 229 6.47x
Worcestershire 210 8.96x
Staffordshire 162 2.68x
Surrey 140 1.60x
Shropshire 118 7.61x
Warwickshire 117 2.59x
Somerset 97 3.36x
Suffolk 53 2.43x
Lancashire 50 0.23x
Yorkshire 50 0.28x
Cheshire 48 1.21x
Gloucestershire 43 1.22x
Kent 43 0.70x
Oxfordshire 29 2.62x
Sussex 26 0.86x
Berkshire 16 1.19x
Glamorgan 16 0.51x
Buckinghamshire 14 1.29x
Devon 12 0.32x
Durham 12 0.22x
Hampshire 11 0.30x
Monmouthshire 9 0.69x
Anglesey 8 2.52x
Hertfordshire 7 0.57x
Leicestershire 7 0.35x
Bedfordshire 6 0.65x
Northamptonshire 5 0.30x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.55x
Herefordshire 3 0.41x
Norfolk 3 0.11x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.18x
Channel Islands 2 0.38x
Cornwall 2 0.10x
Dorset 2 0.17x
Lincolnshire 2 0.07x
Rutland 2 1.52x
Denbighshire 1 0.15x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kidderminster Borough in Worcestershire leads with 47 Walfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.28x.

Place Total Index
Kidderminster Borough 47 34.28x
Lambeth 40 2.56x
Wednesbury 38 25.11x
St Pancras London 33 2.29x
Wolverhampton 33 7.09x
Birmingham 32 2.12x
Bridgewater 31 39.55x
Aston 28 2.25x
Kensington London 24 2.41x
Bocking 21 98.59x
Chelsea London 21 3.88x
Hackney London 21 2.09x
Wickham St Paul 21 967.74x
Kings Norton 20 9.52x
East Donyland 19 222.74x
Tipton 19 10.25x
West Ham 19 2.43x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 18 102.45x
Wolverley 17 82.64x
Croydon 15 3.09x
Mile End Old Town 14 4.94x
Spaxton 14 249.11x
Astley 13 265.31x
Plumstead 13 6.37x
Battersea 12 1.82x
Islington London 12 0.69x
Over Stowey 12 372.67x
Rotherhithe 12 5.41x
Ballingdon Cum Brundon 11 245.54x
Bradford 11 11.04x
Eastbourne 11 7.90x
Edgbaston 11 7.84x
Garston 11 17.51x
Lilleshall 11 46.43x
Penge 11 9.60x
St Mary Le Strand 11 192.98x
St Marylebone London 11 1.15x
Banbury 10 45.07x
Camberwell 10 0.87x
Harborne 10 5.15x
Heybridge 10 97.09x
Neithrop 10 26.86x
Sculcoates 10 3.55x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 1.56x
Walsall Foreign 10 3.20x
Bermondsey 9 1.69x
Bromsgrove 9 11.41x
Cherrington 9 592.11x
Dudley 9 3.16x
Limehouse London 9 4.57x
Littleham 9 32.97x
Richmond 9 7.35x
St George Hanover 9 3.84x
Upper Arley 9 200.45x
Brentwood 8 37.05x
Broseley 8 29.05x
Grinshill 8 377.36x
Hammersmith London 8 1.81x
Holyhead 8 13.50x
Layer De La Hay 8 189.57x
Long Melford 8 39.39x
Newington 8 1.21x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 8 46.73x
St Luke London 8 2.78x
Welford 8 188.24x
Wollaston 8 53.84x
Bilston 7 5.97x
Cardiff St Mary 7 4.07x
Church Coppenhall 7 39.55x
Clerkenwell London 7 1.65x
Colchester Holy Trinity 7 89.17x
Great Totham 7 152.17x
Hallow 7 61.03x
Lilstock 7 1206.90x
Northfield 7 15.75x
Ramsgate 7 7.01x
Redditch 7 14.74x
Springfield 7 45.10x
Stoke Prior 7 48.44x
Wincanton 7 47.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 118
John 78
George 73
Thomas 53
James 45
Charles 38
Henry 34
Walter 27
Alfred 24
Arthur 21
Edward 21
Frederick 20
Joseph 16
Richard 16
Robert 15
Ernest 14
Frank 14
Samuel 13
Albert 12
Edwin 11
Harry 9
Herbert 9
Fredk. 7
Thos. 6
E. 5
Hugh 5
Benjamin 4
Chas. 4
Daniel 4
Wm. 4
Francis 3
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Harold 3
Isaac 3
Jacob 3
Oliver 3
Percy 3
David 2
Earnest 2
Frederic 2
Hy. 2
Jas. 2
Jeremiah 2
Jno. 2
Lionel 2
Maurice 2
Osborn 2
Ralph 2
Richd. 2

FAQ

Walford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Walford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,836 people were recorded with the Walford surname. That placed it at #2,369 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Walford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,373 in 2016. That gives Walford a modern rank of #2,762.

What does the Walford surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from the Old English "wealf+ford" meaning the ford where wolves crossed a river.

What does the Walford map show?

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