NameCensus.

UK surname

Walsingham

From a place of the same name in Norfolk, England.

In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Walsingham surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 143, ranked #24,505, up from #24,711 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Leiston with Sizewell, St Pancras and Margam. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Northumberland and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walsingham is 146 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 127.0%.

1881 census count

63

Ranked #24,711

Modern count

143

2016, ranked #24,505

Peak year

1999

146 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Walsingham had 63 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,711 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016, ranked #24,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Walsingham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Walsingham surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Walsingham 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 33 #27,390
1861 historical 42 #28,691
1881 historical 63 #24,711
1891 historical 92 #25,109
1901 historical 89 #24,154
1911 historical 119 #20,535
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 134 #23,202
1999 modern 146 #22,202
2000 modern 145 #22,259
2001 modern 135 #22,945
2002 modern 145 #22,392
2003 modern 135 #23,155
2004 modern 131 #23,756
2005 modern 132 #23,623
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 133 #24,059
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 131 #25,056
2010 modern 131 #25,656
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 128 #25,852
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 140 #24,977
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 143 #24,505

Geography

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Where Walsinghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Leiston with Sizewell, St Pancras, Margam, Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints and Hitchin. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Northumberland, Cornwall, Castle Point and South Kesteven. 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 Leiston with Sizewell Suffolk
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Margam Glamorganshire
4 Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints Hertfordshire
5 Hitchin Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 002 North Norfolk
2 Northumberland 002 Northumberland
3 Cornwall 003 Cornwall
4 Castle Point 005 Castle Point
5 South Kesteven 007 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Walsingham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Walsingham

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Walsingham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Walsingham is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Walsingham

The surname Walsingham originated in England during the medieval period. It is a habitational name derived from the town of Walsingham in Norfolk, which itself derives from the Old English words "walc" meaning "foreigner" and "ingham" meaning "homestead or village of".

The earliest known record of the surname Walsingham dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Walsingheham". This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Francis Walsingham (c.1530-1590), who served as principal secretary to Queen Elizabeth I and is renowned for his work in establishing an effective intelligence network to protect the realm.

Another notable figure was Thomas Walsingham (c.1340-c.1422), a monk and chronicler who wrote the "Chronicon Angliae" and "Historia Anglicana", both important historical works covering events in England from 1272 to 1422.

In the 16th century, Edward Walsingham (c.1540-1599) was an English soldier and diplomat who served as ambassador to France and Scotland during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The surname is also associated with the town of Walsingham in Norfolk, which became a prominent religious center and site of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages due to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.

During the 17th century, Sir Thomas Walsingham (1561-1630) was an English politician and member of Parliament who served as Lieutenant of the Tower of London.

Over the centuries, variations in spelling have included Walsingam, Walsingeham, and Walsyngham, reflecting the evolution of the English language and regional dialects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Walsingham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walsingham 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 17 Walsinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.77x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 17 2.77x
Hertfordshire 15 35.42x
Warwickshire 12 7.74x
Lincolnshire 9 9.16x
Suffolk 5 6.68x
Kent 1 0.48x
Leicestershire 1 1.47x
Staffordshire 1 0.48x
Surrey 1 0.33x
Sussex 1 0.97x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 12 Walsinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.24x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 12 23.24x
Corby 9 5625.00x
St Pancras London 7 14.16x
Ware 6 495.87x
Leiston 5 980.39x
Mile End New Town 4 476.19x
Shenley 3 1071.43x
Stanstead Abbots 3 1153.85x
Hackney London 2 5.81x
Hendon 2 90.50x
Hitchin 2 104.71x
Battersea 1 4.42x
Castle Church 1 80.00x
Chipping Barnet 1 135.14x
Edmonton 1 20.20x
Hastings St Mary 1 38.76x
Leicester St Margaret 1 6.02x
St George Hanover 1 12.47x
Tonbridge 1 13.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Henry 4
William 4
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
Edward 2
James 2
Alfred 1
David 1
E. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
John 1
Joseph 1
Oliver 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Walsingham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Walsingham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Walsingham surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Walsingham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016. That gives Walsingham a modern rank of #24,505.

What does the Walsingham surname mean?

From a place of the same name in Norfolk, England.

What does the Walsingham map show?

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