NameCensus.

UK surname

Wall

An occupational surname referring to a mason or builder who constructs walls.

In the 1881 census there were 10,463 people recorded with the Wall surname, ranking it #409 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15,832, ranked #397, up from #409 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Sedgemoor and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wall is 16,354 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.3%.

1881 census count

10,463

Ranked #409

Modern count

15,832

2016, ranked #397

Peak year

1999

16,354 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wall had 10,463 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #409 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 15,832 in 2016, ranked #397.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14,342 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Wall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wall 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 7,005 #399
1861 historical 7,580 #371
1881 historical 10,463 #409
1891 historical 11,470 #393
1901 historical 13,005 #405
1911 historical 14,342 #340
1997 modern 15,651 #385
1998 modern 16,230 #387
1999 modern 16,354 #388
2000 modern 16,164 #391
2001 modern 15,723 #390
2002 modern 15,985 #395
2003 modern 15,519 #394
2004 modern 15,461 #399
2005 modern 15,249 #394
2006 modern 15,226 #396
2007 modern 15,288 #399
2008 modern 15,361 #400
2009 modern 15,788 #400
2010 modern 16,146 #399
2011 modern 15,900 #399
2012 modern 15,683 #398
2013 modern 16,050 #397
2014 modern 16,116 #398
2015 modern 15,964 #398
2016 modern 15,832 #397

Geography

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Where Walls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Lambeth and Wedmore. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Sedgemoor, Shropshire and Malvern Hills. 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 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Wedmore Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
2 Sedgemoor 006 Sedgemoor
3 Shropshire 039 Shropshire
4 Shropshire 035 Shropshire
5 Malvern Hills 001 Malvern Hills

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wall

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wall is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Wall is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wall 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 Wall 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 Wall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wall

The surname WALL is an English topographic name that originated in the Middle Ages. It derives from the Old English word 'wall', referring to a defensive wall or rampart. The name likely arose as a way to identify someone who lived near or worked on a wall or fortification.

The earliest recorded instance of the WALL surname dates back to the 13th century. In 1273, a Robert de la Walle was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, England. This early spelling variation highlights the name's topographic origins.

The Domesday Book of 1086, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror, contains several place names that may have given rise to the WALL surname. These include Wall in Staffordshire, Walles in Worcestershire, and Walle in Norfolk.

Notable individuals with the WALL surname throughout history include John Wall (c.1585-1666), an English writer and clergyman who published several religious works. Thomas Wall (1593-1677) was an English Catholic priest and missionary who served in England during the turbulent times of the English Reformation.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the WALL surname is that of John Wall (1608-1688), an early settler in Virginia. He served as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and was a prominent figure in the colony.

Another notable bearer of the WALL surname was Richard Wall (1694-1778), an Irish politician and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Ireland from 1756 to 1757. He played a significant role in Irish politics during the 18th century.

Walter Wall (1701-1783) was a British military officer and colonial administrator who served as Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica from 1766 to 1768. He had a distinguished career in the British Army and was involved in various military campaigns.

The WALL surname has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions throughout the centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the defensive walls and fortifications of medieval England, reflecting the topographic nature of many English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wall 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. Middlesex leads with 1,064 Walls recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.04x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,064 1.04x
Staffordshire 954 2.77x
Lancashire 868 0.72x
Warwickshire 752 2.92x
Yorkshire 601 0.59x
Worcestershire 590 4.42x
Derbyshire 534 3.34x
Somerset 533 3.24x
Surrey 505 1.01x
Shropshire 495 5.61x
Gloucestershire 441 2.20x
Kent 398 1.14x
Durham 360 1.18x
Herefordshire 359 8.57x
Cheshire 167 0.74x
Nottinghamshire 158 1.15x
Essex 151 0.75x
Monmouthshire 137 1.86x
Glamorgan 136 0.76x
Hampshire 116 0.55x
Devon 98 0.46x
Norfolk 85 0.54x
Wiltshire 81 0.90x
Northumberland 80 0.53x
Oxfordshire 69 1.09x
Leicestershire 68 0.60x
Sussex 62 0.36x
Cornwall 55 0.48x
Lincolnshire 55 0.34x
Hertfordshire 40 0.57x
Cumberland 39 0.44x
Northamptonshire 38 0.40x
Brecknockshire 36 1.76x
Buckinghamshire 36 0.58x
Berkshire 32 0.42x
Dorset 27 0.40x
Denbighshire 26 0.67x
Lanarkshire 26 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 24 0.74x
Radnorshire 20 2.43x
Bedfordshire 19 0.36x
Channel Islands 17 0.56x
Suffolk 17 0.14x
Carmarthenshire 12 0.28x
Montgomeryshire 12 0.51x
Westmorland 10 0.45x
Fife 9 0.15x
Royal Navy 9 0.74x
Midlothian 7 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 6 0.30x
Ayrshire 5 0.07x
Isle of Man 5 0.26x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.04x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.06x
Flintshire 4 0.15x
Merionethshire 4 0.21x
Perthshire 2 0.04x
Anglesey 1 0.06x
Angus 1 0.01x
Argyllshire 1 0.04x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.02x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.04x
East Lothian 1 0.07x
Morayshire 1 0.06x
Rutland 1 0.13x
Wigtownshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 231 Walls recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.69x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 231 2.69x
Aston 225 3.17x
Lambeth 145 1.63x
Wedmore 145 135.51x
West Bromwich 142 7.19x
Hackney London 116 2.03x
Tipton 94 8.90x
St Pancras London 88 1.07x
Bethnal Green London 84 1.89x
Wolverhampton 83 3.13x
Battersea 82 2.18x
Islington London 78 0.79x
Dudley 76 4.69x
Kingswinford 68 5.43x
Camberwell 64 0.98x
Liverpool 64 0.87x
Hulme 61 2.41x
Sheffield 61 1.89x
Manchester 60 1.10x
Mile End Old Town 59 3.66x
Newington 57 1.51x
Matlock 56 26.08x
Paddington London 52 1.38x
Nottingham St Mary 51 1.43x
St Marylebone London 50 0.92x
Kings Norton 49 4.10x
Deptford St Paul 48 1.79x
Shoreditch London 48 1.08x
Kidderminster Borough 46 5.89x
Walsall Foreign 44 2.47x
Everton 43 1.11x
Kensington London 43 0.76x
Addingham 42 55.53x
Bedwellty 41 3.14x
Stoke Upon Trent 40 1.09x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 38 2.01x
Rowley Regis 38 3.95x
Wolverley 38 32.45x
Eggleston 36 137.83x
Sedgley 36 2.81x
Stottesdon 36 89.91x
Wellington 36 7.26x
Chelsea London 35 1.14x
Ecclesall Bierlow 34 1.65x
Kingstanley 34 45.93x
Kirkdale 34 1.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 34 1.65x
Toxteth Park 34 0.83x
Barking 33 5.59x
Bedminster 33 2.14x
Bromsgrove 33 7.35x
Gateshead 33 1.45x
West Ham 33 0.74x
Darley 32 49.52x
Litchurch 32 4.97x
Oldham 32 0.82x
Salford 32 0.90x
Street 32 35.97x
West Derby 32 0.90x
Cheltenham 31 2.01x
Ystradyfodwg 31 1.99x
Greenwich 30 1.84x
Brighton 29 0.83x
Eckington 29 7.46x
Keighley 29 2.69x
Orleton 29 144.49x
Wednesbury 29 3.37x
Bishop Monkton 28 165.78x
Ensham 28 85.65x
Harborne 28 2.53x
Tenbury 28 38.33x
Cornsay 27 33.00x
Derby St Peter 27 5.30x
Siddington 27 159.86x
Trevethin 26 3.73x
Willenhall 26 4.03x
Clifton 25 2.47x
Madeley 25 7.73x
Stafford St Mary 24 4.92x
Tottenham 24 1.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 701
Elizabeth 377
Sarah 377
Ann 216
Jane 199
Eliza 190
Emma 161
Ellen 149
Alice 146
Annie 146
Emily 118
Hannah 114
Margaret 89
Harriet 85
Martha 84
Louisa 80
Charlotte 74
Caroline 67
Ada 65
Fanny 65
Florence 63
Maria 63
Anne 55
Edith 53
Catherine 52
Kate 48
Clara 47
Lucy 43
Frances 40
Susan 37
Agnes 32
Rose 29
Harriett 27
Amy 26
Bridget 25
Jessie 25
Amelia 24
Julia 24
Sophia 23
Eleanor 22
Matilda 22
Susannah 22
Esther 21
Gertrude 20
Isabella 18
Lydia 17
Beatrice 15
Elizth. 14
Ethel 14
Selina 14

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 642
William 621
Thomas 466
George 373
James 313
Henry 214
Charles 199
Joseph 177
Edward 129
Arthur 112
Richard 110
Alfred 108
Robert 102
Samuel 90
Albert 78
Frederick 77
Walter 73
Edwin 59
Frank 57
Harry 52
David 50
Ernest 46
Benjamin 42
Herbert 42
Francis 37
Patrick 27
Wm. 26
Michael 24
Stephen 21
Daniel 19
Fred 18
Thos. 16
Geo. 15
Christopher 13
Isaac 13
Mark 13
Percy 13
Peter 12
Tom 12
Andrew 11
Fredrick 11
Josiah 11
Leonard 11
Philip 11
Sidney 11
Enoch 10
Chas. 9
Fredk. 9
Job 9
Edgar 8

Top occupations

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 Wall households.

FAQ

Wall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10,463 people were recorded with the Wall surname. That placed it at #409 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 15,832 in 2016. That gives Wall a modern rank of #397.

What does the Wall surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a mason or builder who constructs walls.

What does the Wall map show?

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