UK surname
An Anglicized spelling of "Watson", an occupational surname deriving from "watt" meaning watchman or lookout.
In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Walson surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17, ranked #36,904, down from #23,371 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, St Pancras and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walson is 2,761 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.4%.
1881 census count
72
Ranked #23,371
Modern count
17
2016, ranked #36,904
Peak year
1861
2,761 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Walson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Walson surname density by area, 1911 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 | 844 | #3,223 |
| 1861 | historical | 2,761 | #1,060 |
| 1881 | historical | 72 | #23,371 |
| 1891 | historical | 2,173 | #2,152 |
| 1901 | historical | 226 | #14,006 |
| 1911 | historical | 177 | #16,129 |
| 1997 | modern | 17 | #36,181 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 15 | #36,476 |
| 2000 | modern | 15 | #36,425 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 17 | #36,904 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, St Pancras, St Marylebone, Liverpool and Preston. 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 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Preston | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Walson 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 Walson, 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 Walson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Walson 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, Walson 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 Walson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Walson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Walson is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "weald" meaning "forest" or "wood," and "tun" meaning "settlement" or "town." Thus, the name Walson likely referred to someone who hailed from a settlement within or near a forested area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Walson can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings throughout England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name had already established itself in various regions of the country by the late 11th century.
The name Walson has undergone several spelling variations over the centuries, including Waltson, Walston, and Waulston. These variations can often be attributed to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping during the medieval and early modern periods.
Prominent individuals bearing the surname Walson throughout history include Sir John Walson (1558-1632), a wealthy English merchant and landowner who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1608. Another notable figure was William Walson (1667-1741), a renowned clockmaker and inventor from London, who is credited with several innovations in the field of timekeeping.
In the literary realm, the name Walson is associated with Thomas Walson (1556-1629), an English poet and playwright who was a contemporary of William Shakespeare. His works, though lesser-known today, offer valuable insights into the literary and cultural landscape of Elizabethan England.
Across the Atlantic, the name Walson has also left its mark. One notable figure was Captain James Walson (1723-1798), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a prominent landowner in Virginia.
Another individual of note was Rebecca Walson (1788-1857), a Quaker minister and abolitionist from Pennsylvania, who actively campaigned against slavery and advocated for women's rights in the early 19th century.
While the surname Walson may not be among the most common, its rich history and diverse bearers have contributed to the tapestry of English and American culture, spanning various fields and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walson 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. Middlesex leads with 28 Walsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 28 | 3.99x |
| Lancashire | 19 | 2.28x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 1.69x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.25x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 1.69x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 2.57x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.58x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.29x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.65x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 3.77x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.68x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.69x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.44x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.06x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.93x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.96x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.65x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 11 Walsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.16x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 11 | 16.16x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 8 | 60.42x |
| St Pancras London | 5 | 8.84x |
| Toxteth Park | 5 | 17.72x |
| Burnley | 4 | 56.98x |
| Wolverhampton | 4 | 21.94x |
| St James Garlickhithe | 3 | 6000.00x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 9.45x |
| Ealing | 2 | 31.85x |
| Eltham | 2 | 142.86x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 3.27x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 2 | 10.53x |
| St Sepulchre London | 2 | 194.17x |
| Barony | 1 | 1.74x |
| Beverley St Nicholas | 1 | 175.44x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.69x |
| Castleford | 1 | 39.53x |
| Cerrig Y Druidion | 1 | 384.62x |
| Christchurch | 1 | 32.05x |
| Clungunford | 1 | 714.29x |
| Edgbaston | 1 | 18.21x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 2.64x |
| Erith | 1 | 42.37x |
| Friern Barnet | 1 | 64.52x |
| Great Yarmouth | 1 | 11.19x |
| Hendon | 1 | 39.53x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 22.94x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.98x |
| North Meols | 1 | 12.25x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 8.88x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 10.91x |
| Tranmere | 1 | 17.54x |
| Westgate | 1 | 15.46x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Walson 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 Walson 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 Walson households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Commercial Clerk | 2 |
| Cotton Weaver | 2 |
| Office Boy | 2 |
| Almshouse Pention | 1 |
| Apprentice Farmer (Ag Student) | 1 |
| Book Folder | 1 |
| Club Steward | 1 |
| Die Maker | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Dyer Agent | 1 |
| Footman | 1 |
| Fruiterer | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Hairdresser (Employing 2 Hands) | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Householder | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Ladysmaid | 1 |
| Laundress Domestic Servant | 1 |
| London City Missionary | 1 |
| Machine Porter (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Merchant On Commission | 1 |
| Musician | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Pianoforte Maker | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Railway Clerk | 1 |
| Silversmith | 1 |
| Stationers Assist | 1 |
| Upholsterer | 1 |
| Waiter (Inn Serv) | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Walson surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 17 in 2016. That gives Walson a modern rank of #36,904.
An Anglicized spelling of "Watson", an occupational surname deriving from "watt" meaning watchman or lookout.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Walson 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.