NameCensus.

UK surname

Walkey

A surname potentially derived from the Old English words "walh" meaning "foreigner" or "wealh" meaning "Briton".

In the 1881 census there were 233 people recorded with the Walkey surname, ranking it #11,648 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 287, ranked #15,212, down from #11,648 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes and Landrake with St Erney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, West Dorset and Exeter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walkey is 348 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.2%.

1881 census count

233

Ranked #11,648

Modern count

287

2016, ranked #15,212

Peak year

1998

348 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Walkey had 233 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,648 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016, ranked #15,212.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 347 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Walkey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Walkey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Walkey 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 191 #10,808
1861 historical 211 #11,508
1881 historical 233 #11,648
1891 historical 283 #11,573
1901 historical 276 #12,315
1911 historical 347 #10,318
1997 modern 342 #12,379
1998 modern 348 #12,585
1999 modern 343 #12,800
2000 modern 329 #13,090
2001 modern 329 #12,921
2002 modern 325 #13,275
2003 modern 319 #13,263
2004 modern 316 #13,425
2005 modern 297 #13,916
2006 modern 294 #14,092
2007 modern 295 #14,198
2008 modern 297 #14,230
2009 modern 318 #13,863
2010 modern 309 #14,420
2011 modern 302 #14,535
2012 modern 289 #14,875
2013 modern 294 #14,961
2014 modern 291 #15,168
2015 modern 282 #15,417
2016 modern 287 #15,212

Geography

Back to top

Where Walkeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes, Landrake with St Erney, St Austell and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, West Dorset, Exeter, Southwark and South Gloucestershire. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 Landrake with St Erney Cornwall
4 St Austell Cornwall
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 004 Cornwall
2 West Dorset 008 West Dorset
3 Exeter 007 Exeter
4 Southwark 012 Southwark
5 South Gloucestershire 021 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Walkey

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Walkey

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Walkey 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

Walkey is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Walkey falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Walkey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Walkey

The surname Walkey has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "walcere," which referred to a fuller or walker of cloth, a profession that involved pounding and thickening woolen cloth.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1275, which reference a person named John le Walker. This early spelling variation highlights the connection to the occupation of cloth fulling or walking.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Walkar, Walkere, and Walkar, reflecting the evolution of spelling conventions over time. These variations were often used interchangeably to denote the same family or individual.

The Walkey surname is also associated with several place names in England, including Walkey in Derbyshire and Walkley in Yorkshire. It is possible that some individuals adopted the surname based on their place of residence or origin.

Notable individuals with the surname Walkey include:

1. John Walkey (1568-1631), an English merchant and politician who served as a member of Parliament for Shaftesbury in 1624. 2. Thomas Walkey (1684-1768), a British clockmaker known for his contributions to the development of precision timekeeping mechanisms. 3. Sarah Walkey (1771-1856), a British diarist and author who chronicled life in rural Berkshire during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. 4. William Walkey (1812-1888), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the former headquarters of the Prudential Assurance Company. 5. Ernest Walkey (1880-1958), an Australian cricketer who played for the New South Wales and Australian national teams in the early 20th century.

While the Walkey surname may not be as widely known as some others, its history is deeply rooted in the skilled trades and occupations of medieval England, reflecting the importance of the textile industry during that era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Walkey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walkey 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. Cornwall leads with 75 Walkeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.66x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 75 28.66x
Devon 75 15.59x
Glamorgan 18 4.47x
Cheshire 16 3.14x
Gloucestershire 11 2.43x
Monmouthshire 10 5.98x
Hampshire 6 1.27x
Warwickshire 6 1.03x
Channel Islands 4 5.84x
Kent 4 0.51x
Surrey 4 0.36x
Middlesex 3 0.13x
Oxfordshire 2 1.40x
Berkshire 1 0.58x
Staffordshire 1 0.13x
Sussex 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Austell in Cornwall leads with 26 Walkeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 290.50x.

Place Total Index
St Austell 26 290.50x
Great Torrington 18 659.34x
Exeter St Sidwell 17 154.27x
Runcorn 16 135.94x
Week St Mary 13 3170.73x
Stoke Damerel 10 29.69x
Cardiff St Mary 9 40.60x
Landrake 9 1551.72x
St Mellons 9 1914.89x
Swansea Town 9 27.27x
St Ive 8 476.19x
East Teignmouth 7 355.33x
St Cleer 6 264.32x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 33.07x
Exeter St David 5 121.65x
Romsey Infra 5 310.56x
Birmingham 4 2.06x
Cheltenham 4 11.44x
Croydon 4 6.40x
Plumstead 4 15.21x
St Helier 4 17.94x
Exeter Holy Trinity 3 158.73x
Kilkhampton 3 389.61x
Pilton 3 188.68x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 8.09x
Barnstaple 2 26.49x
Callington 2 131.58x
Cornwell 2 2500.00x
East Stonehouse 2 21.10x
Falmouth 2 21.60x
Ide 2 384.62x
St George Hanover 2 6.63x
Stonehouse 2 77.52x
Stratford On Avon 2 61.92x
Stratton 2 140.85x
Arundel 1 45.87x
Calstock 1 19.49x
Cookham 1 18.48x
Devonport 1 18.08x
Heanton Punchardon 1 285.71x
Holy Trinity 1 99.01x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 7.24x
Newport 1 12.55x
Poundstock 1 243.90x
Saltash 1 49.26x
Southampton All Sts 1 12.30x
St Mary Le Strand 1 135.14x
St Wenn 1 232.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 13
Jane 7
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Annie 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Grace 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Bessie 2
Clara 2
Eva 2
Helena 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Betsey 1
C.S.Catherine 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
E.J. 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Georgiana 1
Hannah 1
Hanny 1
Harriett 1
Ida 1
Infant 1
Jenifar 1
Lucey 1
Mabel 1
Margery 1
Maude 1
Milborough 1
Millie 1
Minnie 1
Olivia 1
Sophia 1
Susa 1
Susannah 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 15
Joseph 10
Charles 9
Henry 8
Thomas 5
George 4
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Oliver 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Harry 2
James 2
Ferdinando 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Jno. 1
Joshua 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Saml.G. 1
Thos.Dunston 1
Thos.Payne 1
Titus 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Willm.Hy. 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Walkey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Walkey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 233 people were recorded with the Walkey surname. That placed it at #11,648 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Walkey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016. That gives Walkey a modern rank of #15,212.

What does the Walkey surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from the Old English words "walh" meaning "foreigner" or "wealh" meaning "Briton".

What does the Walkey map show?

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