UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Wallan, Australia.
In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Wallan surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #28,285 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wallan is 323 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 81.6%.
1881 census count
38
Ranked #28,285
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
323 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wallan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wallan surname density by area, 1891 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 | 48 | #24,615 |
| 1861 | historical | 323 | #7,888 |
| 1881 | historical | 38 | #28,285 |
| 1891 | historical | 230 | #13,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 46 | #29,047 |
| 1911 | historical | 52 | #27,620 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney, Manchester and Liverpool. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wallan 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 Wallan, 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 Wallan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wallan 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, Wallan 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 Wallan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wallan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wallan likely has its origins in Northern Europe, specifically within the British Isles or Scandinavia, dating back to the medieval period. The name Wallan may derive from various Old English or Old Norse terms. In Old English, the term "weall" refers to a wall, which could imply a person living near or responsible for a wall or fortification. Alternatively, the Old Norse word "völlr" means field or meadow, suggesting a geographical origin related to an open field.
In Britain, the name Wallan could be linked to place names or regions. For example, historical references indicate Walland Marsh in Kent, which might have contributed to the surname's origin. Historical records from the Domesday Book of 1086, though primarily listing place names, note various Walland-type structures and locales that could be etymologically connected to the surname Wallan.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wallan dates back to the 13th century. A document from 1275 lists a Thomas de Wallon living in Yorkshire, England. The prefix "de" suggests a geographical link, indicating that Thomas likely hailed from an area known as Wallon or Wallan. This historical listing provides a crucial reference to the surname's medieval roots.
Several notable individuals have carried the Wallan surname through history. John Wallan, born in 1582, was a minor landowner in Suffolk, England. His records indicate involvement in early local governance during the Elizabethan era. Another significant figure, Henrik Wallan, born in 1645, was a Swedish merchant who contributed to commerce in Gothenburg during Sweden's age of empire.
During the 18th century, the surname appeared in North America. George Wallan, born in 1712, was among the early settlers in colonial Virginia. His descendants played roles in the Revolutionary War, indicating the Wallan family's early involvement in American history. In the 19th century, the name became notable in Australia. James Wallan, born in 1820, was a prominent figure during the Australian gold rush, contributing to early explorations and settlements in Victoria.
Isabelle Wallan, born in 1867, was an important figure in the late Victorian and Edwardian eras in Britain. As a suffragette, she campaigned for women's voting rights, leaving a lasting legacy on social reforms. The Wallan surname, therefore, bears a rich historical tapestry, weaving through various geographies, professions, and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wallan 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. Durham leads with 13 Wallans recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.11x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 13 | 12.11x |
| Northumberland | 11 | 20.49x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.83x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.84x |
| Devon | 2 | 2.66x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 3.69x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.26x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.35x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.23x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.57x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Penshaw in Durham leads with 9 Wallans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2812.50x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Penshaw | 9 | 2812.50x |
| Cowpen | 8 | 645.16x |
| Gateshead | 4 | 49.75x |
| Langfield | 2 | 317.46x |
| Westgate | 2 | 60.24x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 4.34x |
| Clewer | 1 | 90.09x |
| East Ogwell | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Enfield | 1 | 42.19x |
| Holbeck | 1 | 42.19x |
| Liscard | 1 | 69.93x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 35.97x |
| Salford | 1 | 7.94x |
| Southampton St Mary | 1 | 21.51x |
| St George Martyr | 1 | 163.93x |
| St Luke London | 1 | 17.27x |
| Tormoham | 1 | 31.45x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wallan 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 Wallan 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 Wallan households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Coal Miner | 5 |
| Scholar | 5 |
| Nil | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Blacksmiths Lab | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dowler Cotton Mill | 1 |
| Engineers Draftsman (E & M) | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Lace Maker | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Slater | 1 |
| Warehouseman (Not Manchs) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Wallan surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Wallan a modern rank of #37,967.
A locational surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Wallan, Australia.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wallan 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.