NameCensus.

UK surname

Walsworth

An English locational surname indicating someone from the village of Walsworth in Hertfordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Walsworth surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 90, ranked #32,202, down from #31,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Bradford and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walsworth is 104 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 429.4%.

1881 census count

17

Ranked #31,170

Modern count

90

2016, ranked #32,202

Peak year

2010

104 bearers

Map years

1

2006 to 2006

Key insights

  • Walsworth had 17 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 90 in 2016, ranked #32,202.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 97 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Walsworth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Walsworth surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Walsworth 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 19 #29,904
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 17 #31,170
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 58 #27,724
1911 historical 90 #23,797
1997 modern 84 #29,106
1998 modern 88 #29,131
1999 modern 91 #28,937
2000 modern 95 #28,441
2001 modern 91 #28,670
2002 modern 95 #28,666
2003 modern 91 #29,121
2004 modern 92 #29,197
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 103 #27,785
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 104 #29,618
2011 modern 101 #29,938
2012 modern 90 #31,790
2013 modern 91 #32,020
2014 modern 92 #32,132
2015 modern 86 #32,604
2016 modern 90 #32,202

Geography

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Where Walsworths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Bradford, East Riding of Yorkshire, Wakefield and Kirklees. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 095 Leeds
2 Bradford 045 Bradford
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 001 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Wakefield 017 Wakefield
5 Kirklees 011 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Walsworth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Walsworth

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Walsworth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Walsworth household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Walsworth is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Walsworth is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Walsworth 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 Walsworth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Walsworth, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Walsworth

The surname Walsworth has its origins in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "walh" and "worþ," which respectively mean "foreigner" and "enclosure" or "farm." This suggests that the name originally referred to a farm or settlement inhabited by foreigners or immigrants.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where a person named Walterus de Walleswrth is mentioned. This spelling variation likely arose due to the regional dialect and pronunciation of the time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records across different counties in England, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which listed a John de Wallesworth. This indicates that the name had spread and become established across different regions.

The name Walsworth is also associated with several place names in England, such as Walsworth in Gloucestershire and Walsworth Common in Hertfordshire. It is possible that the surname may have derived from these locations, or vice versa, with the places being named after early inhabitants with the Walsworth surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Walsworth include:

1. John Walsworth (c. 1570-1633), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Magdalen College, Oxford, from 1626 until his death.

2. Thomas Walsworth (1629-1678), an English judge and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the 17th century.

3. William Walsworth (1683-1741), a British naval officer and explorer who is credited with mapping and charting various islands in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

4. Mary Walsworth (1760-1843), a British novelist and poet who published several works during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, including the novel "The Orphan of the Black Mountains" in 1802.

5. Arthur Walsworth (1835-1912), a British businessman and industrialist who founded the Walsworth Manufacturing Company, which produced textile machinery and equipment in the late 19th century.

These examples demonstrate the historical presence and significance of the Walsworth surname across various fields and professions in England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Walsworth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walsworth 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. Hampshire leads with 11 Walsworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.40x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 11 32.40x
Lancashire 4 2.04x
Gloucestershire 2 6.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 10 Walsworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 150.38x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 10 150.38x
Habergham Eaves 4 222.22x
Cheltenham 2 79.68x
Southampton St Mary 1 46.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Adeline 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Maria 1
Marth 1
Mary 1
Rosina 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 2
John 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Edwin 1
Noble 1

Top occupations

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 Walsworth households.

FAQ

Walsworth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Walsworth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Walsworth surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Walsworth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 90 in 2016. That gives Walsworth a modern rank of #32,202.

What does the Walsworth surname mean?

An English locational surname indicating someone from the village of Walsworth in Hertfordshire.

What does the Walsworth map show?

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