UK surname
An English surname relating to someone who worked in cloth-making or with walkers.
In the 1881 census there were 106 people recorded with the Walkins surname, ranking it #19,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #19,083 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, St Pancras and Merthyr Tydfil. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walkins is 2,514 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.6%.
1881 census count
106
Ranked #19,083
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1861
2,514 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Walkins surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Walkins surname density by area, 1881 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 | 372 | #6,397 |
| 1861 | historical | 2,514 | #1,163 |
| 1881 | historical | 106 | #19,083 |
| 1891 | historical | 2,067 | #2,236 |
| 1901 | historical | 168 | #16,886 |
| 1911 | historical | 348 | #10,297 |
| 1997 | modern | 23 | #35,484 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 12 | #36,749 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, St Pancras, Merthyr Tydfil, St Marylebone and Aberdare. 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 | Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean | Monmouthshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Aberdare | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Walkins 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 Walkins, 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 Walkins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Walkins 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, Walkins 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 Walkins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Walkins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Walkins has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "walcan" or "walcen," meaning "to tread" or "to walk." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a walker or traveler.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "William le Walken." This early spelling variation highlights the connection to the Old English root word.
Throughout the medieval period, the Walkins surname was predominantly concentrated in the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire. It is also possible that the name has its roots in the place name "Walking" or "Walkington," which are both found in various parts of England.
In the 16th century, the name appears in historical records such as the Lancashire Wills and Inventories from 1548, where a "Henry Walkyns" is mentioned. This further solidifies the presence of the Walkins surname during this time period.
Notable individuals with the Walkins surname include Sir John Walkins (1616-1668), a prominent English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1663. Another noteworthy figure is Thomas Walkins (1618-1676), a Welsh clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.
In the 18th century, the Walkins surname can be found in the records of the Society of Genealogists, with entries such as the marriage of John Walkins and Mary Langton in 1745. This suggests that the name had spread beyond its original regional boundaries.
Other notable individuals with the Walkins surname include William Walkins (1784-1857), an English architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London, and Sir John Walkins (1873-1935), a British businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament.
While the Walkins surname may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its historical roots can be traced back to the Old English language and the concept of walking or traveling.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walkins 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. Middlesex leads with 24 Walkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.37x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 24 | 2.37x |
| Lancashire | 19 | 1.58x |
| Surrey | 19 | 3.84x |
| Sussex | 6 | 3.51x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.60x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 1.95x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 2.26x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 1.89x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 1.51x |
| Kent | 3 | 0.87x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 2.26x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.58x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 1.62x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.47x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.50x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 2.40x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.14x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.61x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 7 Walkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.80x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Walkins 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 Walkins 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 Walkins households.
FAQ
In 1881, 106 people were recorded with the Walkins surname. That placed it at #19,083 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Walkins a modern rank of #37,501.
An English surname relating to someone who worked in cloth-making or with walkers.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Walkins 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.