NameCensus.

UK surname

Walpole

An English locational surname derived from towns and villages named Walpole.

In the 1881 census there were 1,174 people recorded with the Walpole surname, ranking it #3,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,683, ranked #3,716, down from #3,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Loughborough and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walpole is 1,845 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.4%.

1881 census count

1,174

Ranked #3,428

Modern count

1,683

2016, ranked #3,716

Peak year

1998

1,845 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Walpole had 1,174 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,683 in 2016, ranked #3,716.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,777 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Walpole surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Walpole surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Walpole 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 699 #3,733
1861 historical 701 #3,863
1881 historical 1,174 #3,428
1891 historical 1,344 #3,241
1901 historical 1,615 #3,202
1911 historical 1,777 #2,754
1997 modern 1,808 #3,321
1998 modern 1,845 #3,382
1999 modern 1,819 #3,438
2000 modern 1,820 #3,429
2001 modern 1,772 #3,430
2002 modern 1,814 #3,427
2003 modern 1,763 #3,458
2004 modern 1,746 #3,490
2005 modern 1,681 #3,575
2006 modern 1,697 #3,550
2007 modern 1,695 #3,577
2008 modern 1,713 #3,573
2009 modern 1,737 #3,605
2010 modern 1,796 #3,573
2011 modern 1,746 #3,610
2012 modern 1,703 #3,641
2013 modern 1,753 #3,602
2014 modern 1,736 #3,655
2015 modern 1,703 #3,677
2016 modern 1,683 #3,716

Geography

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Where Walpoles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Loughborough, Lambeth and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Norwich. 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 Loughborough Leicestershire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 005 Breckland
2 Breckland 004 Breckland
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 008 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Breckland 002 Breckland
5 Norwich 006 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Walpole

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Walpole

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

Walpole 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

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

Meaning and origin of Walpole

The surname Walpole originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "wall" meaning "wall" and "pyll" meaning "stream" or "pool." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a stream or pool close to a wall or fortification.

One of the earliest records of the name Walpole can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Walpolam" in Norfolk. This suggests the name was already established in that region by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Wallepol," "Walepol," and "Walpole" in different county records across England. These variations in spelling were common during that period.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Walpole, who served as a member of parliament for Norfolk in the late 14th century. Another was Thomas Walpole, a merchant and landowner in Norfolk, who lived in the 15th century.

During the 16th century, the Walpole family became prominent in Norfolk, with several members holding influential positions. Sir Edward Walpole (1559-1637) was a courtier and diplomat who served under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.

In the 18th century, Sir Robert Walpole (1676-1745) was a prominent figure in British politics, serving as the first Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1721 to 1742. His son, Horace Walpole (1717-1797), was a renowned writer and art historian, best known for his novel "The Castle of Otranto."

Another notable bearer of the surname was Ralph Walpole (1628-1703), a Jesuit priest and scientist who made significant contributions to the study of botany and horticulture.

Over the centuries, the Walpole surname has been associated with various place names in Norfolk, such as Walpole St. Peter, Walpole St. Andrew, and Walpole Highway, further reinforcing its origins in that region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Walpole families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walpole 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. Norfolk leads with 290 Walpoles recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.41x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 290 16.41x
Middlesex 221 1.92x
Surrey 76 1.36x
Lancashire 75 0.55x
Suffolk 72 5.14x
Yorkshire 66 0.58x
Lincolnshire 57 3.10x
Leicestershire 50 3.92x
Northamptonshire 34 3.15x
Warwickshire 25 0.86x
Rutland 24 28.45x
Essex 18 0.79x
Kent 18 0.46x
Derbyshire 17 0.94x
Nottinghamshire 17 1.10x
Sussex 13 0.67x
Staffordshire 12 0.31x
Buckinghamshire 9 1.30x
Durham 9 0.26x
Worcestershire 9 0.60x
Lanarkshire 8 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.96x
Cheshire 7 0.28x
Gloucestershire 6 0.27x
Devon 5 0.21x
Glamorgan 5 0.25x
Berkshire 4 0.46x
Northumberland 4 0.23x
Roxburghshire 4 1.92x
Bedfordshire 3 0.50x
Hampshire 3 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.31x
Royal Navy 2 1.46x
Anglesey 1 0.49x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x
Midlothian 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 28 Walpoles recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.79x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 28 2.79x
Enfield 25 33.16x
Heigham 21 22.14x
St Pancras London 20 2.16x
Hackney London 18 2.79x
Ketton 18 410.02x
Bourn 17 114.56x
Leicester St Margaret 17 5.47x
Birmingham 16 1.66x
Brightside Bierlow 16 7.16x
Islington London 16 1.44x
Kensington London 16 2.50x
St George Hanover 16 10.67x
Bromley London 15 5.93x
Beyton 14 1037.04x
Wigan 12 6.30x
Filby 11 478.26x
Hillingdon 11 30.02x
Loughborough 11 19.03x
North Meols 11 8.24x
Norton Subcourse 11 769.23x
Shoreditch London 11 2.21x
Sudbury St Peter 11 143.42x
West Walton 11 325.44x
Everton 10 2.30x
Liverpool 10 1.21x
Toft Lound Manthorpe 10 961.54x
West Ham 10 2.00x
Dudley 9 4.93x
Geddington 9 258.62x
Gressenhall 9 275.23x
Hopton 9 260.12x
Leeds 9 1.40x
North Walsham 9 70.64x
Richmond 9 50.59x
Scarning 9 343.51x
Tipton 9 7.58x
Woking 9 26.67x
Bowthorpe 8 3636.36x
Earlham 8 851.06x
Hampton London 8 42.35x
Ipswich St Mathew 8 20.40x
Kingsthorpe 8 66.61x
Loddon 8 176.21x
Manchester 8 1.30x
Mileham 8 414.51x
Norwich St Peter Hungate 8 522.88x
Preston 8 2.19x
Rollesby 8 361.99x
Rugby 8 20.40x
Shotts 8 17.99x
St Marylebone London 8 1.30x
Walton On Thames 8 31.12x
Birkenhead 7 3.46x
Brumstead 7 1346.15x
East Dereham 7 31.36x
Great Yarmouth 7 4.78x
Hellesdon 7 215.38x
Hindringham 7 301.72x
Kirkley 7 59.78x
Norwich St Augustine 7 98.31x
Nottingham St Mary 7 1.75x
Poplar London 7 3.23x
Beaconsfield 6 93.17x
Camberwell 6 0.82x
Clapham 6 4.18x
Deptford St Paul 6 1.98x
Earl Soham 6 247.93x
Eastbourne 6 6.73x
Forncett St Peter 6 246.91x
Grantham 6 25.05x
Heworth 6 8.91x
Norwich St Gregory 6 193.55x
Norwich St Michael At 6 58.54x
Stallingborough 6 315.79x
Stanfield 6 857.14x
Tydd St Giles 6 172.91x
Wandsworth 6 5.42x
Bawburgh 5 299.40x
Brighton 5 1.28x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 78
John 59
Robert 41
Thomas 40
George 38
Charles 30
Henry 28
Horace 21
James 20
Walter 16
Alfred 12
Arthur 12
Edward 12
Frederick 12
Joseph 10
Samuel 10
Albert 7
Ernest 6
Harry 6
Edwin 5
Richard 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 4
Frank 4
Fredrick 4
Luke 4
Francis 3
Spencer 3
Stanley 3
Chas. 2
Herbert 2
Horatio 2
Isaac 2
Jos. 2
R. 2
T. 2
Ashur 1
Benjamine 1
Christopher 1
Danl. 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.H. 1
Henery 1
Horrace 1
Howard 1
Humphrey 1
Jas. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Walpole surname: questions and answers

How common was the Walpole surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,174 people were recorded with the Walpole surname. That placed it at #3,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Walpole surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,683 in 2016. That gives Walpole a modern rank of #3,716.

What does the Walpole surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from towns and villages named Walpole.

What does the Walpole map show?

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