UK surname
A surname denoting a person from Wallonia or Wales.
In the 1881 census there were 166 people recorded with the Wallas surname, ranking it #14,496 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 55, ranked #34,627, down from #14,496 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Caldbeck, Sunderland and Wigton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wallas is 227 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.9%.
1881 census count
166
Ranked #14,496
Modern count
55
2016, ranked #34,627
Peak year
1861
227 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wallas surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wallas 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 | 175 | #11,542 |
| 1861 | historical | 227 | #10,749 |
| 1881 | historical | 166 | #14,496 |
| 1891 | historical | 131 | #20,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 99 | #22,999 |
| 1911 | historical | 60 | #26,808 |
| 1997 | modern | 53 | #32,329 |
| 1998 | modern | 52 | #32,732 |
| 1999 | modern | 50 | #33,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 54 | #32,710 |
| 2001 | modern | 54 | #32,583 |
| 2002 | modern | 49 | #33,377 |
| 2003 | modern | 47 | #33,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 53 | #33,336 |
| 2005 | modern | 51 | #33,701 |
| 2006 | modern | 54 | #33,780 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 50 | #34,521 |
| 2009 | modern | 50 | #34,663 |
| 2010 | modern | 51 | #34,773 |
| 2011 | modern | 47 | #34,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 52 | #34,709 |
| 2013 | modern | 48 | #35,012 |
| 2014 | modern | 56 | #34,601 |
| 2015 | modern | 56 | #34,571 |
| 2016 | modern | 55 | #34,627 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Caldbeck, Sunderland, Wigton, Govan Combination 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 | Caldbeck | Cumberland |
| 2 | Sunderland | Durham |
| 3 | Wigton | Cumberland |
| 4 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 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 Wallas 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 Wallas, 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 Wallas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wallas 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, Wallas 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 Wallas is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wallas, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WALLAS is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is thought to derive from the Old English word "walh," which referred to someone of Celtic or foreign origin, particularly from the regions of Wales or Brittany.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the renowned Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 under the direction of William the Conqueror. This historical document contains references to individuals bearing the surname WALLAS, suggesting its presence in England during the Norman conquest.
In the 13th century, the name WALLAS appeared in various records and manuscripts, often associated with place names or locations where families bearing this surname resided. For example, the village of Wallasay in Cheshire was once known as "Wallesse," likely derived from the same origin as the surname.
Among the notable individuals with the surname WALLAS throughout history is Sir John Wallas, a Scottish knight who lived in the 14th century and fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Another prominent figure was William Wallas, a 16th-century English explorer and navigator who accompanied Sir Francis Drake on his expeditions to the Americas.
In the 17th century, the variant spelling "Wallace" emerged, with individuals such as Sir William Wallace, the legendary Scottish patriot and leader during the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. Born around 1270, Wallace's exploits and resistance against English rule have been immortalized in literature and folklore.
The 18th century saw the rise of James Wallas, a Scottish philosopher and professor at the University of Edinburgh, born in 1718. His works on rhetoric and belles-lettres influenced the literary and academic circles of his time.
In more recent history, the surname WALLAS has been associated with notable figures such as Graham Wallas, a British social psychologist and author born in 1858, who made significant contributions to the field of political science and the study of human behavior.
While the surname WALLAS has evolved and adapted over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the medieval era, when it emerged as a descriptor for individuals of Celtic or foreign descent in England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wallas 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. Cumberland leads with 50 Wallas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.65x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 50 | 35.65x |
| Middlesex | 26 | 1.60x |
| Renfrewshire | 15 | 11.88x |
| Leicestershire | 10 | 5.54x |
| Warwickshire | 10 | 2.43x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 0.62x |
| Durham | 9 | 1.86x |
| Wiltshire | 7 | 4.86x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.31x |
| Devon | 4 | 1.18x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 0.90x |
| Herefordshire | 2 | 2.99x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 0.77x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.36x |
| Sussex | 2 | 0.73x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 0.82x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 2.07x |
| Fife | 1 | 1.04x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.19x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.46x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.41x |
| Orkney | 1 | 5.58x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 0.71x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigton in Cumberland leads with 20 Wallas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 952.38x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wallas 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 Wallas 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 Wallas households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 24 |
| Son | 4 |
| Shoemaker | 3 |
| Wife | 3 |
| Ag Servant (Indoor) | 2 |
| C Winder | 2 |
| Cabinet Maker | 2 |
| Fisherman | 2 |
| Jewellers Workman | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Ag Lab General Servant | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Auctioneer & Printer Stationer Wife | 1 |
| Bank Manager | 1 |
| Brass Bedstead Maker | 1 |
| Brass Polisher | 1 |
| Brick Maker | 1 |
| Bricklayers Lab | 1 |
| Bricklayers Lab Wife | 1 |
| Bridle Stitcher | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Chemical Laborer | 1 |
| Chemist & Druggist | 1 |
| Clogger | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Dairy Maid (Ag L) | 1 |
| Daur | 1 |
| Dock Laborer | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Farm Serv Indoor | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farmer Of 115 Acres | 1 |
| Formerly A Servant | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gen Serv (Domestic) | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Groom Dom Serv | 1 |
| Gun Maker & Game Dealer | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| House Keeper D & S | 1 |
| House Keeper Domestic (D S G) | 1 |
| Housework | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Iron Miner | 1 |
| Worsted Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 166 people were recorded with the Wallas surname. That placed it at #14,496 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 55 in 2016. That gives Wallas a modern rank of #34,627.
A surname denoting a person from Wallonia or Wales.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wallas 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.