NameCensus.

UK surname

Walkden

A locational surname originating from a place name in Lancashire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,352 people recorded with the Walkden surname, ranking it #3,029 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,146, ranked #5,146, down from #3,029 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chorley, Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walkden is 1,714 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.2%.

1881 census count

1,352

Ranked #3,029

Modern count

1,146

2016, ranked #5,146

Peak year

1911

1,714 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Walkden had 1,352 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,029 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,146 in 2016, ranked #5,146.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,714 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Walkden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Walkden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Walkden 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 827 #3,265
1861 historical 860 #3,218
1881 historical 1,352 #3,029
1891 historical 1,399 #3,112
1901 historical 1,632 #3,165
1911 historical 1,714 #2,857
1997 modern 1,249 #4,559
1998 modern 1,298 #4,571
1999 modern 1,336 #4,482
2000 modern 1,301 #4,574
2001 modern 1,291 #4,508
2002 modern 1,326 #4,491
2003 modern 1,277 #4,548
2004 modern 1,248 #4,649
2005 modern 1,215 #4,714
2006 modern 1,205 #4,753
2007 modern 1,205 #4,800
2008 modern 1,209 #4,812
2009 modern 1,249 #4,778
2010 modern 1,245 #4,895
2011 modern 1,230 #4,881
2012 modern 1,165 #5,032
2013 modern 1,170 #5,102
2014 modern 1,171 #5,127
2015 modern 1,162 #5,107
2016 modern 1,146 #5,146

Geography

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Where Walkdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Blackburn, Bolton-le-Moors and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chorley, Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen, St. Helens and Lancaster. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chorley 014 Chorley
2 Bolton 004 Bolton
3 Blackburn with Darwen 017 Blackburn with Darwen
4 St. Helens 017 St. Helens
5 Lancaster 019 Lancaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Walkden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Walkden

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Walkden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Walkden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Walkden 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

Walkden 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

Walkden falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Walkden

The surname Walkden is of English origin, derived from the place name Walkden located in Greater Manchester, England. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words 'walc' meaning 'full' and 'denu' meaning 'valley' or 'den', suggesting it was initially given to someone who lived in a fertile valley.

Walkden is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Walchedene', indicating that the name and the settlement existed during the Norman conquest of England. The earliest known bearer of the surname Walkden was William de Walkedene, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1199.

One of the notable early bearers of the name was John Walkden, a 15th-century English cleric who served as the Archdeacon of Richmond from 1454 to 1474. Another notable figure was Peter Walkden (1564-1627), an English theologian and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Crudities of the Protestants."

In the 17th century, Thomas Walkden (1621-1693) was a prominent Quaker preacher and author from Lancashire, known for his work "The Innocent Vindicated" published in 1677. Around the same time, Richard Walkden (1623-1694) was an English soldier who fought in the English Civil War and later served as the Governor of Nottingham Castle.

Moving into the 19th century, Peter Walkden (1819-1874) was a British industrialist and engineer who played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in Manchester. He was also a prominent philanthropist and contributed to the establishment of several educational institutions in the region.

Other notable individuals with the surname Walkden include Arthur Walkden (1886-1956), an English footballer who played for Manchester United and the English national team, and John Walkden (1919-2001), a British actor best known for his roles in television series such as "The Avengers" and "Doctor Who".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Walkden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walkden 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. Lancashire leads with 1,144 Walkdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,144 7.33x
Middlesex 51 0.39x
Cheshire 50 1.72x
Surrey 24 0.37x
Yorkshire 24 0.18x
Hertfordshire 10 1.10x
Kent 8 0.18x
Cornwall 7 0.47x
Staffordshire 7 0.16x
Northumberland 6 0.31x
Sussex 5 0.23x
Leicestershire 4 0.27x
Derbyshire 3 0.15x
Lincolnshire 2 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.11x
Hampshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Over Darwen in Lancashire leads with 115 Walkdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 92.27x.

Place Total Index
Over Darwen 115 92.27x
Blackburn 95 22.88x
Great Bolton 60 29.03x
Bury 40 22.44x
Prestwich 40 102.75x
Chadderton 35 45.88x
Radcliffe 35 46.54x
Lower Darwen 34 166.02x
Oldham 34 6.75x
Blackrod 30 154.72x
Hindley 28 42.09x
Oswaldtwistle 27 48.98x
Farnworth 25 26.74x
Little Bolton 23 11.46x
Newton 21 17.46x
Pilkington 21 35.43x
Wigan 19 8.71x
Hulme 18 5.53x
Moss Side 18 21.92x
Castleton 17 10.91x
Stretford 17 19.80x
Chorley 16 18.27x
Heap 16 19.33x
Islington London 16 1.26x
Pendleton In Salford 16 8.61x
Chorlton On Medlock 15 6.05x
Wardleworth 15 16.82x
Livesey 13 47.48x
Habergham Eaves 12 8.41x
Horwich 12 70.51x
Accrington 11 7.75x
Crompton 11 24.76x
Layton With Warbreck 11 19.21x
Burnley 10 7.61x
Halliwell 10 17.61x
Little Heaton 10 268.10x
Manchester 10 1.43x
Salford 10 2.18x
Spotland 10 5.76x
Ashton In Makerfield 9 20.26x
Ashwell 9 126.40x
Haslingden 9 13.93x
Great Warford 8 506.33x
Rochdale 8 70.30x
Yate Pickup Bank 8 258.90x
Failsworth 7 19.61x
Ince In Makerfield 7 9.64x
Landewednack 7 265.15x
Liverpool 7 0.74x
North Meols 7 4.58x
St Michael Queenhithe 7 823.53x
Urmston 7 69.17x
Westminster St James 7 5.18x
Baguley 6 181.27x
Burslem 6 4.72x
Carrington 6 304.57x
Middleton In Oldham 6 12.83x
Normanton 6 15.32x
Seghill 6 62.57x
Tonge 6 18.33x
Turton 6 23.48x
Weybridge 6 43.64x
Worsley 6 6.24x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 4.26x
Brighton 5 1.12x
Eccleshill 5 147.06x
Elton 5 9.27x
Flixton 5 62.58x
Golcar 5 14.51x
Little Lever 5 25.06x
Lower Booths 5 17.88x
Moston 5 31.95x
Sale 5 14.04x
St Marylebone London 5 0.71x
Toxteth Park 5 0.95x
Warburton 5 260.42x
Ashby De La Zouch 4 11.84x
Birkdale 4 10.13x
Halifax 4 2.09x
Millington 4 333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 100
Alice 64
Elizabeth 55
Sarah 49
Ann 38
Jane 36
Ellen 28
Margaret 26
Emma 19
Hannah 19
Nancy 15
Martha 14
Eliza 13
Esther 12
Annie 11
Betty 11
Harriet 10
Clara 8
Emily 8
Maria 8
Catherine 7
Florence 6
Isabella 6
Agnes 5
Betsy 5
Caroline 5
Edith 5
Fanny 5
Rachel 5
Ada 4
Louisa 4
Lydia 4
Phoebe 4
Rose 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Bertha 3
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Eve 3
Leah 3
Margt. 3
Ruth 3
Amy 2
Elisabeth 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Minnie 2
Peggy 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 103
William 83
James 74
Thomas 49
Robert 27
Joseph 26
Peter 22
Samuel 20
Arthur 16
Henry 16
Charles 13
Wm. 12
George 11
Richard 10
Edward 8
Albert 7
Ernest 7
Frank 7
Herbert 7
Alfred 6
Edwin 5
Francis 5
Frederick 5
Thos. 5
Walter 5
Adam 3
Daniel 3
Edmund 3
Harold 3
Hugh 3
Josiah 3
Ralph 3
Benjamin 2
Ellis 2
Harry 2
Jeffry 2
Jessie 2
Luke 2
Robt. 2
Wilfred 2
Allen 1
Charley 1
Chas.S.H. 1
Christoper 1
Ezekiel 1
Fredrick 1
Jechonias 1
Jeffery 1
Jesse 1
Young 1

FAQ

Walkden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Walkden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,352 people were recorded with the Walkden surname. That placed it at #3,029 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Walkden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,146 in 2016. That gives Walkden a modern rank of #5,146.

What does the Walkden surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place name in Lancashire, England.

What does the Walkden map show?

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