NameCensus.

UK surname

Walmsley

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "clearing in the woods frequented by ravens."

In the 1881 census there were 6,180 people recorded with the Walmsley surname, ranking it #704 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,614, ranked #1,020, down from #704 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Preston and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ribble Valley and South Ribble.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walmsley is 7,888 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.0%.

1881 census count

6,180

Ranked #704

Modern count

6,614

2016, ranked #1,020

Peak year

1911

7,888 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Walmsley had 6,180 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #704 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,614 in 2016, ranked #1,020.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,888 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Walmsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Walmsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Walmsley 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 3,873 #732
1861 historical 3,753 #751
1881 historical 6,180 #704
1891 historical 6,447 #707
1901 historical 7,316 #744
1911 historical 7,888 #650
1997 modern 6,762 #962
1998 modern 6,994 #969
1999 modern 7,036 #973
2000 modern 6,998 #971
2001 modern 6,869 #969
2002 modern 7,002 #969
2003 modern 6,801 #969
2004 modern 6,703 #988
2005 modern 6,550 #1,004
2006 modern 6,598 #996
2007 modern 6,653 #995
2008 modern 6,676 #995
2009 modern 6,825 #999
2010 modern 6,982 #994
2011 modern 6,841 #999
2012 modern 6,587 #1,015
2013 modern 6,740 #1,013
2014 modern 6,740 #1,018
2015 modern 6,625 #1,021
2016 modern 6,614 #1,020

Geography

Back to top

Where Walmsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Preston, Blackburn, Bolton-le-Moors and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ribble Valley and South Ribble. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ribble Valley 003 Ribble Valley
2 Ribble Valley 004 Ribble Valley
3 South Ribble 004 South Ribble
4 Ribble Valley 008 Ribble Valley
5 South Ribble 008 South Ribble

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Walmsley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Walmsley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Walmsley, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Walmsley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Walmsley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Walmsley 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

Walmsley is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Walmsley

The surname Walmsley has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word 'walm', meaning 'a spring or stream', and the Old English word 'leah', meaning 'a clearing in a forest'. It is believed that the name originally referred to a person who lived near a stream or spring in a woodland clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Walmsley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire, dated 1176, where it is spelled as 'Walmesley'. This document mentions a landowner named Richard de Walmesley, suggesting that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

The Walmsley family had strong ties to the area around Bury, Lancashire, and several members of the family held prominent positions in the local community over the centuries. One notable figure was Sir Thomas Walmsley (1537-1612), who served as a judge and Lord Justice of the Court of Common Pleas during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another important historical figure was Charles Walmsley (1740-1805), a British politician and businessman who served as a Member of Parliament for Kilkenny City in Ireland. He was also known for his involvement in the Irish linen trade and his support for the Irish Patriot movement.

In the 16th century, the Walmsley family held lands in the township of Shuttleworth, near Bury, and the surname is closely associated with the place name Walmsley, which is derived from the same Old English roots as the surname itself.

Other notable individuals with the surname Walmsley include:

1. Edward Walmsley (1787-1866), an English poet and writer. 2. Thomas Walmsley (1763-1835), an English inventor and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of the spinning mule and other textile machinery. 3. Robert Walmsley (1834-1905), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Blackburn from 1885 to 1900. 4. Evelyn Walmsley (1891-1982), a British actress and playwright. 5. John Walmsley (1923-2010), an English cricketer who played for Lancashire and England.

Throughout its history, the surname Walmsley has been associated with various locations in England, particularly in Lancashire, where it has deep roots and a rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Walmsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walmsley 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. Lancashire leads with 4,652 Walmsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.49x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 4,652 6.49x
Yorkshire 599 1.00x
Cheshire 222 1.66x
Lincolnshire 111 1.15x
Middlesex 72 0.12x
Surrey 49 0.17x
Kent 41 0.20x
Staffordshire 34 0.17x
Derbyshire 33 0.35x
Shropshire 32 0.61x
Durham 30 0.17x
Northamptonshire 28 0.49x
Cumberland 27 0.52x
Westmorland 27 2.03x
Warwickshire 25 0.16x
Herefordshire 22 0.89x
Northumberland 19 0.21x
Oxfordshire 18 0.48x
Essex 12 0.10x
Aberdeenshire 11 0.20x
Leicestershire 11 0.16x
Norfolk 11 0.12x
Hampshire 8 0.06x
Isle of Man 8 0.71x
Lanarkshire 8 0.04x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.18x
Gloucestershire 7 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 7 0.58x
Somerset 7 0.07x
Sussex 7 0.07x
Anglesey 6 0.56x
Ayrshire 6 0.13x
Royal Navy 6 0.83x
Devon 4 0.03x
Renfrewshire 4 0.09x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.12x
Denbighshire 3 0.13x
Dumfriesshire 3 0.22x
Flintshire 3 0.18x
Worcestershire 3 0.04x
Bedfordshire 2 0.06x
Wiltshire 2 0.04x
Angus 1 0.02x
Berkshire 1 0.02x
Hertfordshire 1 0.02x
Midlothian 1 0.01x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.01x
Rutland 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 707 Walmsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.04x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 707 37.04x
Preston 446 23.24x
Accrington 141 21.62x
Over Darwen 110 19.20x
Walton Le Dale 104 53.96x
Great Bolton 90 9.47x
Oswaldtwistle 74 29.20x
Great Harwood 72 55.53x
Manchester 72 2.23x
Newton 72 13.02x
Salford 67 3.18x
Little Bolton 58 6.29x
Farnworth 57 13.26x
Leyland 57 45.67x
Liverpool 57 1.31x
Chorley 56 13.91x
Oldham 56 2.42x
Bury 51 6.22x
Ashton Under Lyne 49 3.13x
North Meols 45 6.41x
Layton With Warbreck 44 16.72x
Failsworth 40 24.37x
Ovenden 39 14.63x
Witton 38 42.11x
Dilworth 36 81.91x
Livesey 36 28.60x
Newchurch 36 6.13x
Chorlton On Medlock 35 3.07x
Whittle Le Woods 35 147.18x
Barrow In Furness 34 3.49x
Warrington 34 4.00x
Sutton In Macclesfield 33 23.83x
Clayton Le Moors 30 21.55x
Clitheroe 29 13.74x
Elton 29 11.70x
Lower Darwen 29 30.80x
Penwortham 29 85.34x
Halliwell 28 10.73x
Lytham 28 25.57x
Aighton Bailey 27 78.13x
Chipping 27 132.22x
Everton 27 1.18x
Habergham Eaves 27 4.12x
Heap 27 7.10x
Hindley 27 8.83x
Leeds 27 0.80x
Bradford 26 1.79x
Hulme 26 1.74x
Spotland 26 3.26x
Towcester 25 42.63x
Burnley 24 3.97x
Stockport 24 3.49x
Church 23 22.71x
Cleethorpes 23 40.45x
Kirkham 23 24.25x
Wortley In Bramley 23 4.85x
Haslingden 22 7.41x
Lancaster 22 5.15x
Tottington Lower End 22 6.45x
Toxteth Park 22 0.91x
Wigan 22 2.19x
Beswick 21 11.45x
Broughton In Salford 21 3.20x
Farnhill 21 180.88x
Great Little Marsden 21 6.39x
Macclesfield 21 3.54x
Woodplumpton 21 81.90x
Rishton 20 23.77x
Sharples 20 25.71x
St George Hanover 20 2.53x
Barnsley 19 3.08x
Droylsden 19 8.12x
Samlesbury 19 120.48x
Turton 19 16.18x
Walmersley Cum 19 16.58x
Chadderton 18 5.13x
Horton In Bradford 18 1.92x
Padiham 18 10.39x
Calverley Cum Farsley 17 9.99x
Holy Trinity 17 1.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 548
Elizabeth 270
Sarah 203
Alice 201
Ann 173
Margaret 165
Jane 154
Ellen 139
Martha 73
Hannah 72
Annie 67
Isabella 53
Eliza 47
Emma 47
Maria 35
Catherine 34
Emily 31
Agnes 30
Nancy 27
Ada 26
Esther 26
Edith 25
Harriet 25
Clara 23
Florence 19
Betty 17
Lucy 17
Anne 16
Eleanor 15
Fanny 15
Frances 15
Caroline 14
Susannah 14
Betsy 13
Grace 13
Kate 13
Louisa 13
Susan 13
Bertha 12
Amelia 11
Charlotte 11
Elizth. 11
Margt. 11
Gertrude 10
Rachel 10
Selina 10
Margret 9
Matilda 9
Rebecca 9
Sophia 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 473
William 397
James 337
Thomas 275
Joseph 148
George 119
Robert 103
Henry 101
Richard 90
Charles 60
Edward 49
Arthur 33
Samuel 32
Walter 28
Frederick 24
Hugh 24
Albert 22
Alfred 22
Benjamin 22
David 22
Wm. 21
Fred 18
Herbert 18
Harry 16
Peter 16
Francis 15
Thos. 14
Ernest 13
Edmund 11
Lawrence 9
Edwin 8
Frank 8
Joshua 8
Robt. 8
Isaac 7
Geo. 6
Paul 6
Seth 6
Cornelius 5
Elijah 5
Enoch 5
Harold 5
Harrison 5
Jos. 5
Moses 5
Ralph 5
Reuben 5
Abraham 4
Nathan 4
Roger 4

FAQ

Walmsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Walmsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,180 people were recorded with the Walmsley surname. That placed it at #704 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Walmsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,614 in 2016. That gives Walmsley a modern rank of #1,020.

What does the Walmsley surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "clearing in the woods frequented by ravens."

What does the Walmsley map show?

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