NameCensus.

UK surname

Walkley

A locational name for someone from a place called "Walkley", possibly near Sheffield in Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 487 people recorded with the Walkley surname, ranking it #6,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 495, ranked #10,052, down from #6,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Horsley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Rochdale and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walkley is 674 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.6%.

1881 census count

487

Ranked #6,914

Modern count

495

2016, ranked #10,052

Peak year

1911

674 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Walkley had 487 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 495 in 2016, ranked #10,052.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 674 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Walkley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Walkley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Walkley 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 337 #6,953
1861 historical 359 #7,113
1881 historical 487 #6,914
1891 historical 504 #7,377
1901 historical 626 #6,839
1911 historical 674 #6,264
1997 modern 570 #8,442
1998 modern 599 #8,407
1999 modern 579 #8,642
2000 modern 598 #8,447
2001 modern 576 #8,523
2002 modern 581 #8,630
2003 modern 573 #8,592
2004 modern 565 #8,697
2005 modern 543 #8,873
2006 modern 539 #8,954
2007 modern 530 #9,144
2008 modern 534 #9,168
2009 modern 550 #9,169
2010 modern 552 #9,338
2011 modern 533 #9,500
2012 modern 517 #9,644
2013 modern 504 #9,966
2014 modern 507 #9,981
2015 modern 502 #9,972
2016 modern 495 #10,052

Geography

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Where Walkleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Horsley, Minchinhampton and St Woollos (incl. Newport). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Rochdale and West Lindsey. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Horsley Gloucestershire
4 Minchinhampton Gloucestershire
5 St Woollos (incl. Newport) Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 018 Caerphilly
2 Caerphilly 007 Caerphilly
3 Rochdale 021 Rochdale
4 West Lindsey 001 West Lindsey
5 Caerphilly 014 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Walkley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Walkley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Walkley is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Walkley 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

Walkley falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Walkley

The surname Walkley has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English words 'wealhg' and 'leah,' meaning 'a wood or grove of foreigners or strangers.' The name likely originated from a place called Walkley, located in Yorkshire or Derbyshire.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Walkley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as 'Walchelei.' This ancient document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, recorded the names of landowners and their properties across England.

During the medieval period, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Walkelay, Walkelee, and Walkeleye, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and writing at the time. Notable examples include John de Walkelay, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1286, and Robert de Walkeleye, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire in 1327.

In the 16th century, the name Walkley began to take on its modern spelling. One of the earliest instances of this can be found in the records of St. Giles Cripplegate, London, which mention the marriage of William Walkley in 1582.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Walkley. Among them are:

1. Thomas Walkley (1642-1718), an English clergyman and author known for his work "The Reasonable Reformer." 2. Andrew Walkley (1755-1819), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. 3. Mary Walkley (1781-1856), a British author and poet, best known for her collection of poems titled "The Poetical Remains of the Late Mary Walkley." 4. John Walkley (1809-1875), a British businessman and philanthropist, who founded the Walkley Scholarship at the University of Cambridge. 5. Arthur Walkley (1855-1926), an influential English drama critic and essayist, renowned for his work with The Times and The Star newspapers.

The name Walkley has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Walkley Clough and Walkley Bank in Yorkshire, further reinforcing its locational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Walkley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walkley 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. Gloucestershire leads with 169 Walkleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.18x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 169 18.18x
Middlesex 52 1.10x
Surrey 38 1.65x
Lincolnshire 34 4.49x
Warwickshire 28 2.34x
Monmouthshire 24 7.00x
Wiltshire 18 4.29x
Kent 14 0.87x
Somerset 14 1.83x
Staffordshire 14 0.87x
Glamorgan 13 1.57x
Cheshire 10 0.96x
Sussex 10 1.25x
Yorkshire 10 0.21x
Pembrokeshire 7 4.65x
Lancashire 6 0.11x
Brecknockshire 5 5.27x
Devon 4 0.41x
Essex 4 0.43x
Oxfordshire 4 1.37x
Norfolk 3 0.41x
Shropshire 2 0.49x
Cumberland 1 0.25x
Leicestershire 1 0.19x
Worcestershire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheltenham in Gloucestershire leads with 31 Walkleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.22x.

Place Total Index
Cheltenham 31 43.22x
Horsley 25 606.80x
Chippenham 18 204.78x
Islington London 17 3.70x
Minchinhampton 15 202.43x
Battersea 14 8.03x
Croydon 14 10.92x
Birmingham 12 3.01x
Horncastle 12 153.45x
Westbury On Severn East 11 52.33x
Wolstanton 11 22.63x
Aston 10 3.04x
Brighton 10 6.20x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 11.42x
Friskney 9 373.44x
Woodchester 9 612.24x
Camberwell 8 2.64x
Randwick 8 437.16x
Bracebridge 7 202.90x
Bradford 7 6.15x
Saul 7 721.65x
St George Hanover 7 11.31x
Stroud 7 38.70x
Tewkesbury 7 84.34x
Trevethin 7 21.63x
Wiveliscombe 7 164.71x
Christchurch 6 56.60x
Eltham 6 63.29x
Kingstanley 6 174.42x
Monkswood 6 2068.97x
Slimbridge 6 434.78x
Steynton 6 123.20x
Swansea Town 6 8.87x
Capesthorne 5 2777.78x
Edgbaston 5 13.49x
Hackney London 5 1.88x
Llanelly 5 44.09x
Kensington London 4 1.52x
Mangotsfield 4 43.15x
Thornbury 4 62.89x
Westbury On Trym 4 12.70x
Whitchurch 4 89.69x
Yate 4 196.08x
Avening 3 91.46x
Banbury 3 51.19x
Bollington In 3 32.22x
Newport 3 18.35x
Prittlewell 3 23.13x
Tottenham 3 3.97x
Ubley 3 652.17x
West Bromwich 3 3.27x
Widnes 3 7.39x
Almondbury 2 8.80x
Beckenham 2 9.46x
Bedminster 2 2.79x
Bedwellty 2 3.31x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 4.48x
Bristol St Paul In 2 8.07x
Canterbury St Andrew 2 294.12x
Edmonton 2 5.24x
Gloucester St Aldate 2 173.91x
Herne 2 27.93x
Norwich St John 2 307.69x
Roath 2 5.33x
Shrewsbury St Mary 2 12.38x
Spitalfields London 2 5.61x
St Martin In Fields 2 7.05x
St Maryle Wigford 2 33.96x
Stockport Etchells 2 89.69x
Westminster St James 2 4.10x
Chelsea London 1 0.70x
Culmstock 1 71.43x
Dartford 1 6.05x
Frampton On Severn 1 63.69x
Huddersfield 1 1.46x
Kittisford 1 555.56x
Lambeth 1 0.24x
Neithrop 1 10.16x
Wellington 1 9.66x
Westbury On Severn 1 27.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 21
Ellen 16
Sarah 12
Emily 11
Annie 10
Charlotte 10
Eliza 9
Louisa 9
Emma 8
Alice 7
Ann 7
Jane 7
Hannah 6
Edith 5
Florence 4
Kate 4
Anne 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Matilda 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Eleanor 2
Helena 2
Julia 2
Lydia 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Bridgette 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Dora 1
Dorcas 1
E. 1
Emley 1
Esther 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Gwendoline 1
Hester 1
Hildred 1
Katorina 1
Laura 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 22
William 22
John 21
George 18
Henry 16
James 16
Alfred 10
Charles 10
Arthur 9
Joseph 7
Frederick 6
Albert 5
Daniel 5
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Edward 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Richard 3
Aaron 2
Herbert 2
Jesse 2
Job 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Bertie 1
Earnist 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Eliza 1
Emerson 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Gideon 1
Harry 1
Harvey 1
Irad 1
Isaac 1
Jeffrey 1
Joe 1
Josiah 1
Leopold 1
Moses 1
Nathaniel 1
Norton 1
Percy 1
Rowland 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Theophelus 1

FAQ

Walkley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Walkley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 487 people were recorded with the Walkley surname. That placed it at #6,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Walkley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 495 in 2016. That gives Walkley a modern rank of #10,052.

What does the Walkley surname mean?

A locational name for someone from a place called "Walkley", possibly near Sheffield in Yorkshire.

What does the Walkley map show?

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