UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English name "Wālinc," meaning "foreigner" or "immigrant."
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Walkin surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 74, ranked #33,441, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walkin is 672 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.2%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
74
2016, ranked #33,441
Peak year
1861
672 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Walkin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Walkin surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 317 | #7,308 |
| 1861 | historical | 672 | #3,994 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 544 | #6,940 |
| 1901 | historical | 63 | #27,134 |
| 1911 | historical | 163 | #16,939 |
| 1997 | modern | 86 | #28,876 |
| 1998 | modern | 85 | #29,439 |
| 1999 | modern | 77 | #30,427 |
| 2000 | modern | 79 | #30,249 |
| 2001 | modern | 73 | #30,699 |
| 2002 | modern | 76 | #30,830 |
| 2003 | modern | 73 | #31,186 |
| 2004 | modern | 74 | #31,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 71 | #31,816 |
| 2006 | modern | 60 | #33,235 |
| 2007 | modern | 65 | #33,045 |
| 2008 | modern | 63 | #33,498 |
| 2009 | modern | 64 | #33,675 |
| 2010 | modern | 67 | #33,713 |
| 2011 | modern | 66 | #33,768 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 74 | #33,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 72 | #33,647 |
| 2015 | modern | 77 | #33,272 |
| 2016 | modern | 74 | #33,441 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock, St Pancras, Liverpool and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock | Shropshire |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Walkin surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Walkin, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Walkin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Walkin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Walkin is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Walkin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Walkin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "WALKIN" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It was likely derived from the Old English words "wealcan" or "walcan," meaning "to walk" or "to travel." This suggests that the name may have initially been given as a descriptive nickname to someone who walked or traveled frequently, perhaps a messenger or a wanderer.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name "WALKIN" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the late 12th century, where a person named Robert Walkin is mentioned. This indicates that the surname was already in use by that time.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Walken" and "Walkyn," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that period. The Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273 mention a certain John Walken, while the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297 list a William Walkyn.
During the 14th century, the surname "WALKIN" started to become more widespread across different regions of England. The Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379 include entries for Thomas Walkin and Matilda Walkin, indicating that the name was present in both male and female forms.
One notable individual with the surname "WALKIN" was Sir John Walkin, who lived in the late 15th century. He was a prominent landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1472 and 1478.
In the 16th century, the name "WALKIN" continued to be found in various records, such as the Wills of Sussex from 1554, which mention a Robert Walkin. Another notable figure was William Walkin (1541-1608), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Suffolk.
The 17th century saw the name appearing in various forms, including "Walken" and "Walkeyn." The Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Abington, Northamptonshire, record the baptism of John Walken in 1623.
In the 18th century, the surname "WALKIN" remained present in England, as evidenced by the records of the Society of Friends (Quakers) in Lancashire, which mention individuals such as Thomas Walkin (1717-1790) and Hannah Walkin (1728-1807).
Throughout its history, the surname "WALKIN" has been associated with various locations across England, including Gloucestershire, Yorkshire, Huntingdonshire, Sussex, and Northamptonshire, reflecting the mobility and spread of families bearing this name over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walkin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 12 Walkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 12 | 2.76x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.96x |
| Flintshire | 4 | 33.90x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.87x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 5.07x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 2.71x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 4.85x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 3.04x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 5.64x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.03x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 2.65x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.09x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.31x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.11x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.67x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.23x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 19.12x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.35x |
| Wigtownshire | 1 | 17.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Scarcroft in Yorkshire leads with 7 Walkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 17500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Scarcroft | 7 | 17500.00x |
| Camberwell | 4 | 14.27x |
| Hulme | 4 | 36.80x |
| Northop | 4 | 952.38x |
| Warwick St Nicholas | 3 | 370.37x |
| Wellingborough | 2 | 96.15x |
| Worksop | 2 | 114.29x |
| Anlaby | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Bradford | 1 | 9.50x |
| Brighton | 1 | 6.70x |
| Clase | 1 | 35.21x |
| Clayton | 1 | 94.34x |
| Exeter St Sidwell | 1 | 47.85x |
| Great Driffield | 1 | 112.36x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.35x |
| Llanbeblig | 1 | 55.56x |
| Preston | 1 | 7.18x |
| Radford | 1 | 33.33x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 22.37x |
| Sherburn | 1 | 277.78x |
| South Stoneham | 1 | 51.28x |
| Thingwell | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 18.52x |
| Uldale | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Wigtown | 1 | 303.03x |
| Winkfield | 1 | 181.82x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Walkin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Walkin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Walkin households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Butcher | 2 |
| (No Oc.) | 1 |
| Asistant Hairdresser Apprentice | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Companion Serv | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver Overlooker | 1 |
| Domc Servt | 1 |
| Domestic (St) | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Gardener (Dom Serv) | 1 |
| Gardeners Wife | 1 |
| Groom Dt Servt | 1 |
| Independent | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Nursemaid Dom | 1 |
| Office Boy | 1 |
| Private (Marine) | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Railway Signalman | 1 |
| Retired Shoe Manufacturer | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Servant (Farm) (Indoor) | 1 |
| Sister Of Mercy | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Upholster | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Walkin surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 74 in 2016. That gives Walkin a modern rank of #33,441.
A surname derived from the Old English name "Wālinc," meaning "foreigner" or "immigrant."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Walkin bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.