NameCensus.

UK surname

Waller

An occupational surname referring to a builder or repairer of walls.

In the 1881 census there were 7,532 people recorded with the Waller surname, ranking it #564 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10,276, ranked #628, down from #564 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Brighton and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hartlepool, Broadland and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waller is 11,380 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.4%.

1881 census count

7,532

Ranked #564

Modern count

10,276

2016, ranked #628

Peak year

1999

11,380 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waller had 7,532 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #564 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 10,276 in 2016, ranked #628.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10,367 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Waller surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waller surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waller 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 4,529 #623
1861 historical 5,007 #564
1881 historical 7,532 #564
1891 historical 7,974 #554
1901 historical 9,648 #544
1911 historical 10,367 #470
1997 modern 10,987 #562
1998 modern 11,288 #568
1999 modern 11,380 #570
2000 modern 11,168 #573
2001 modern 10,911 #571
2002 modern 11,195 #570
2003 modern 10,752 #586
2004 modern 10,705 #585
2005 modern 10,483 #587
2006 modern 10,372 #598
2007 modern 10,379 #606
2008 modern 10,347 #613
2009 modern 10,564 #617
2010 modern 10,798 #615
2011 modern 10,594 #618
2012 modern 10,339 #620
2013 modern 10,529 #619
2014 modern 10,554 #623
2015 modern 10,376 #627
2016 modern 10,276 #628

Geography

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Where Wallers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Brighton, St Mary Islington and Luton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hartlepool, Broadland, Norwich and Rotherham. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Brighton Sussex
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Luton Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hartlepool 001 Hartlepool
2 Broadland 004 Broadland
3 Hartlepool 002 Hartlepool
4 Norwich 006 Norwich
5 Rotherham 001 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waller

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waller

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Waller is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Waller is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waller falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Waller

The surname Waller originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It's derived from the Old English word 'walor,' meaning 'wanderer' or 'stranger.' This name was likely given to individuals who had traveled from one place to another, perhaps as traders or craftsmen.

In the Domesday Book, a great survey of England completed in 1086, there are records of individuals with the name Walor or Walur, which are believed to be early iterations of the Waller surname. The earliest known recorded spelling of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk from 1177, where it appears as 'Walur.'

During the Middle Ages, the Waller surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex in East Anglia. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name include Roger Waller, a landowner in Norfolk mentioned in the Feet of Fines in 1199, and William Waller, a merchant from Suffolk who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

One notable figure with the Waller surname was Sir William Waller (1597-1668), an English Parliamentary commander during the English Civil War. He led the Parliamentarian forces in several battles against the Royalists and is remembered for his military prowess and leadership.

Another prominent Waller was Edmund Waller (1606-1687), an English poet and politician who was a member of the Cavalier school of poets. He is best known for his works such as "Go, Lovely Rose" and "On a Girdle," which celebrated the beauty of women and nature.

In the 18th century, John Waller (1742-1810), an English churchman and antiquarian, made significant contributions to the study of ancient manuscripts and inscriptions. He served as the Bishop of Peterborough and was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Moving to the 19th century, Lewis Waller (1860-1915) was a renowned English actor and theatre manager. He gained fame for his performances in Shakespearean plays and is credited with popularizing the use of historical costumes and sets in theatrical productions.

The Waller surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Waller's Ash in Kent and Waller's Haven in Essex, which likely derived their names from individuals or families bearing the Waller surname in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waller families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waller 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 1,200 Wallers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.63x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,200 1.63x
Yorkshire 1,138 1.56x
Surrey 689 1.92x
Kent 485 1.93x
Sussex 474 3.82x
Norfolk 443 3.91x
Hertfordshire 382 7.53x
Essex 315 2.17x
Bedfordshire 305 8.00x
Lancashire 292 0.33x
Durham 289 1.32x
Lincolnshire 205 1.74x
Suffolk 176 1.96x
Derbyshire 170 1.48x
Hampshire 152 1.01x
Devon 102 0.67x
Northumberland 91 0.83x
Cambridgeshire 70 1.50x
Cheshire 60 0.37x
Staffordshire 48 0.19x
Gloucestershire 44 0.30x
Warwickshire 38 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 35 0.35x
Oxfordshire 33 0.73x
Westmorland 33 2.04x
Cumberland 28 0.44x
Somerset 26 0.22x
Lanarkshire 24 0.10x
Northamptonshire 22 0.32x
Berkshire 21 0.38x
Buckinghamshire 18 0.40x
Huntingdonshire 18 1.23x
Worcestershire 18 0.19x
Leicestershire 14 0.17x
Wiltshire 12 0.18x
Royal Navy 11 1.25x
Renfrewshire 10 0.18x
Shropshire 10 0.16x
Dorset 7 0.14x
Brecknockshire 6 0.41x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.16x
Glamorgan 5 0.04x
Cornwall 4 0.05x
Merionethshire 3 0.22x
Channel Islands 2 0.09x
Midlothian 2 0.02x
Monmouthshire 2 0.04x
Perthshire 2 0.06x
Roxburghshire 2 0.15x
Angus 1 0.01x
Cardiganshire 1 0.06x
Herefordshire 1 0.03x
Stirlingshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Luton in Bedfordshire leads with 148 Wallers recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.43x.

Place Total Index
Luton 148 22.43x
Islington London 133 1.86x
Brighton 113 4.51x
Bethnal Green London 94 2.94x
Lambeth 93 1.45x
Battersea 79 2.92x
Camberwell 78 1.66x
St Marylebone London 75 1.91x
St George Hanover 70 7.29x
Ware 68 46.76x
St Pancras London 55 0.93x
Keymer 54 61.63x
Newington 53 1.95x
Shoreditch London 53 1.66x
Hackney London 50 1.21x
Bermondsey 48 2.19x
Alfreton 46 13.14x
Portsea 44 1.49x
Chelsea London 42 1.89x
Kensington London 42 1.03x
St Luke London 42 3.56x
Eckington 41 14.65x
West Ham 41 1.28x
Deptford St Paul 40 2.07x
Edmonton 40 6.75x
Plumstead 40 4.78x
Brightside Bierlow 39 2.73x
Clayton 37 79.13x
Mile End Old Town 35 3.01x
Paddington London 35 1.29x
Ecclesall Bierlow 34 2.29x
Tottenham 33 2.82x
Ardleigh 32 79.42x
Kimberworth 31 7.66x
Middlesbrough 31 3.26x
Watford 31 7.88x
Whitby 31 12.61x
Oldham 30 1.06x
Stranton 30 4.07x
Streatham 30 5.49x
Willesden 30 4.32x
Croydon 29 1.46x
Lewisham 29 2.17x
Shillington 29 51.67x
Stoke Damerel 29 2.70x
Great Grimsby 28 3.75x
Heigham 28 4.61x
Lakenham 28 17.41x
St Albans St Peter 28 16.36x
Wandsworth 28 3.95x
Calverley Cum Farsley 27 13.04x
Ditchling 26 76.90x
Godalming 26 11.52x
Eastbourne 25 4.38x
Hitchin 25 10.92x
Bradford 24 1.36x
Bromley London 24 1.48x
Bishopwearmouth 23 1.22x
Hevingham 23 119.48x
Stoke Newington London 23 4.01x
Birkenhead 22 1.70x
Caddington 22 39.43x
Hipperholme Cum 22 6.86x
Liverpool 22 0.41x
St George In East 22 4.39x
Stockton On Tees 22 2.08x
Barnsley 21 2.79x
Maidstone 21 2.81x
Poplar London 21 1.51x
Clerkenwell London 20 1.15x
Hammersmith London 20 1.10x
Hartlepool 20 6.43x
Leeds 20 0.49x
Southampton St Mary 20 2.11x
Dartford 19 7.40x
Greenwich 19 1.62x
Holy Trinity 19 1.08x
Lowestoft 19 4.49x
Norwich St Paul 19 28.04x
Sunbury 19 21.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 464
Elizabeth 299
Sarah 245
Jane 145
Alice 123
Emma 121
Annie 117
Ellen 117
Ann 111
Emily 108
Eliza 100
Hannah 78
Harriet 67
Martha 61
Louisa 56
Margaret 56
Edith 52
Caroline 48
Charlotte 44
Kate 44
Maria 44
Florence 43
Anne 38
Susan 38
Ada 34
Agnes 32
Catherine 32
Clara 30
Harriett 29
Lucy 29
Fanny 27
Amelia 25
Frances 24
Isabella 24
Esther 22
Rose 22
Minnie 21
Amy 20
Ethel 19
Ruth 19
Susannah 19
Laura 16
Eleanor 15
Lydia 15
Rebecca 15
Sophia 14
Jessie 13
Elizth. 12
Helen 12
Rachel 12

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 452
John 382
George 272
James 255
Thomas 246
Charles 179
Henry 158
Robert 112
Joseph 111
Alfred 109
Frederick 92
Arthur 85
Walter 82
Edward 76
Richard 61
Harry 47
Samuel 44
Herbert 41
Albert 37
Frank 33
David 32
Ernest 32
Wm. 23
Edwin 22
Francis 21
Chas. 20
Edmund 20
Benjamin 19
Thos. 16
Geo. 15
Fred 14
Horace 14
Stephen 14
Christopher 13
Percy 13
Robt. 13
Willm. 13
Isaac 11
Matthew 10
Fredk. 9
Fredrick 9
Mark 9
Tom 9
Daniel 7
Edgar 7
Luke 7
Sidney 7
Jas. 6
Leonard 6
Ralph 6

FAQ

Waller surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waller surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,532 people were recorded with the Waller surname. That placed it at #564 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waller surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 10,276 in 2016. That gives Waller a modern rank of #628.

What does the Waller surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a builder or repairer of walls.

What does the Waller map show?

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