NameCensus.

UK surname

Walter

An occupational surname for a ruler or commanding officer, derived from German "walter" meaning "ruler" or "commander."

In the 1881 census there were 4,602 people recorded with the Walter surname, ranking it #972 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,046, ranked #1,677, down from #972 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Cornwall and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walter is 8,602 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.1%.

1881 census count

4,602

Ranked #972

Modern count

4,046

2016, ranked #1,677

Peak year

1861

8,602 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Walter had 4,602 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #972 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,046 in 2016, ranked #1,677.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,602 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Walter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Walter surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Walter 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 5,098 #540
1861 historical 8,602 #323
1881 historical 4,602 #972
1891 historical 8,516 #516
1901 historical 6,590 #841
1911 historical 8,142 #614
1997 modern 4,273 #1,524
1998 modern 4,363 #1,543
1999 modern 4,345 #1,558
2000 modern 4,262 #1,575
2001 modern 4,099 #1,605
2002 modern 4,123 #1,644
2003 modern 3,999 #1,655
2004 modern 3,996 #1,653
2005 modern 3,906 #1,665
2006 modern 3,862 #1,689
2007 modern 3,906 #1,687
2008 modern 3,903 #1,704
2009 modern 3,997 #1,701
2010 modern 4,054 #1,711
2011 modern 4,033 #1,701
2012 modern 4,001 #1,679
2013 modern 4,095 #1,674
2014 modern 4,090 #1,689
2015 modern 4,055 #1,684
2016 modern 4,046 #1,677

Geography

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Where Walters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Cornwall and Wealden. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 008 Torridge
2 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
3 Torridge 005 Torridge
4 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
5 Wealden 009 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Walter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Walter

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Walter 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

Walter 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

Walter falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Walter 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 Walter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Walter

The surname Walter originated in Germany, emerging in the 8th century AD during the Carolingian dynasty. It is derived from the Old German words "waltan," meaning to rule or govern, and "heri," meaning army. The name was likely initially used as a descriptive byname for someone in a position of authority or a military leader.

In its earliest form, the name was spelled "Walther" or "Waltheri." One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Fulda Monastery records from the 9th century, which mention a monk named "Waltheri." The name also appears in the Codex Traditionum of the Benedictine abbey of Reichenau in the 10th century.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Walter was particularly prevalent in the regions of modern-day Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It was often associated with nobility and landowners, as evidenced by its appearance in various charters and records of the time.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Walter was Walter of Châtillon (c. 1135 – c. 1201), a medieval French theologian, philosopher, and poet. Another was Walter von der Vogelweide (c. 1170 – c. 1230), a celebrated German lyric poet of the Middle High German period.

In England, the name Walter was introduced following the Norman Conquest in 1066. It was initially spelled "Walteri" or "Walterus." One of the earliest recorded examples is Walter Giffard, a Norman lord who was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding lands in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Walter has been associated with various notable individuals, including Sir Walter Raleigh (c. 1554 – 1618), an English writer, poet, and explorer; Walter Scott (1771 – 1832), a Scottish novelist and playwright; and Walter Cronkite (1916 – 2009), an American broadcast journalist known as "the most trusted man in America."

The surname Walter has also been linked to several place names, such as Walter's Ash in Buckinghamshire, England, and Waltersville, Ohio, in the United States, both named after individuals bearing the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Walter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walter 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 858 Walters recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.92x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 858 1.92x
Kent 657 4.30x
Surrey 490 2.25x
Somerset 251 3.48x
Devon 227 2.44x
Sussex 218 2.89x
Warwickshire 173 1.53x
Gloucestershire 161 1.83x
Lincolnshire 146 2.04x
Lancashire 126 0.24x
Hampshire 117 1.28x
Berkshire 109 3.24x
Oxfordshire 100 3.62x
Northamptonshire 99 2.35x
Glamorgan 93 1.19x
Yorkshire 91 0.21x
Wiltshire 64 1.62x
Staffordshire 61 0.40x
Essex 58 0.66x
Cornwall 39 0.77x
Worcestershire 36 0.62x
Carmarthenshire 33 1.75x
Derbyshire 33 0.47x
Hertfordshire 32 1.04x
Cheshire 30 0.30x
Bedfordshire 25 1.08x
Lanarkshire 24 0.17x
Leicestershire 24 0.48x
Durham 23 0.17x
Orkney 22 4.47x
Nottinghamshire 18 0.30x
Buckinghamshire 17 0.63x
Cumberland 14 0.36x
Midlothian 13 0.22x
Dorset 12 0.41x
Monmouthshire 11 0.34x
Norfolk 11 0.16x
Brecknockshire 10 1.12x
Roxburghshire 7 0.86x
Suffolk 6 0.11x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.18x
Cardiganshire 5 0.46x
Merionethshire 4 0.49x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.28x
Royal Navy 4 0.75x
Ayrshire 3 0.09x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.17x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.25x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.34x
Shropshire 3 0.08x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.05x
Angus 2 0.05x
Denbighshire 2 0.12x
Westmorland 2 0.20x
Herefordshire 1 0.05x
Northumberland 1 0.02x
Perthshire 1 0.05x
Renfrewshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

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 112 Walters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.58x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 112 2.58x
Lambeth 102 2.61x
St Pancras London 100 2.78x
Camberwell 85 2.97x
Tonbridge 70 12.71x
Hackney London 54 2.15x
Chelsea London 52 3.86x
Birmingham 51 1.36x
Kensington London 50 2.01x
St Marylebone London 47 1.97x
Battersea 43 2.61x
Aston 41 1.32x
Cheltenham 40 5.91x
Brighton 38 2.50x
Paddington London 35 2.13x
Rotherfield 33 49.67x
Deptford St Paul 32 2.72x
Glastonbury 30 51.02x
Maidstone 29 6.38x
Newington 28 1.69x
Speldhurst 28 36.01x
Gravesend 25 19.34x
Bradworthy 23 169.24x
Buxted 23 77.86x
Charterhouse Hinton 23 271.87x
Chatham 23 5.48x
Hartland 23 79.31x
Kingston On Thames 23 4.39x
Marden 23 64.25x
Southwark St George Martyr 23 2.55x
Staplehurst 23 91.71x
Shoreditch London 22 1.13x
Leamington Priors 21 7.56x
Mile End Old Town 21 2.97x
Dover St Mary Virgin 20 13.53x
Warwick St Nicholas 20 24.16x
Wimbledon 20 8.17x
Upton Noble 19 574.02x
Clapham 18 3.22x
Edlington 18 552.15x
Northampton Priory St 17 6.73x
Ringwood 17 28.97x
Rochester St Margaret 17 10.56x
West Putford 17 478.87x
Bethnal Green London 16 0.82x
Clerkenwell London 16 1.51x
Easton 16 105.40x
Hampstead London 16 2.30x
Portsea 16 0.89x
Sevenoaks 16 12.92x
South Hinksey 16 109.22x
Watlington 16 56.54x
Woolwich 16 2.84x
Bedminster 15 2.22x
Blyton 15 138.63x
Clase 15 5.18x
Leicester St Margaret 15 1.24x
Northampton St Sepulchre 15 7.00x
Oxford St Giles 15 11.38x
St George Hanover 15 2.57x
St George In East 15 4.93x
Alverstoke 14 4.22x
Ashford 14 9.41x
Northmoor 14 305.68x
Rotherhithe 14 2.53x
Walthamstow 14 4.40x
Wandsworth 14 3.25x
Bermondsey 13 0.98x
Bow London 13 2.28x
Cranbrook 13 20.10x
Edenbridge 13 43.41x
Lewisham 13 1.60x
Milton In Gravesend 13 5.68x
Shalbourn 13 103.26x
Stowford 13 216.31x
Westerleigh 13 66.02x
Westminster St 13 7.88x
Windlesham 13 31.70x
Yeovil 13 8.88x
Plymouth St Andrew 12 1.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 271
Elizabeth 173
Sarah 132
Jane 79
Eliza 75
Ann 70
Alice 66
Emma 64
Annie 62
Ellen 59
Emily 50
Louisa 40
Charlotte 35
Kate 34
Maria 31
Florence 30
Edith 29
Martha 29
Caroline 28
Hannah 28
Ada 27
Harriet 27
Margaret 27
Lucy 25
Clara 24
Fanny 24
Frances 22
Anne 21
Catherine 21
Agnes 18
Amy 18
Susan 18
Rose 16
Amelia 14
Harriett 14
Minnie 14
Bessie 13
Esther 13
Grace 13
Gertrude 12
Julia 12
Sophia 12
Eleanor 11
Nellie 10
Ethel 9
Helen 9
Lydia 9
Matilda 9
Maud 9
Rebecca 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 282
John 202
Thomas 108
James 107
Charles 106
George 105
Henry 94
Richard 63
Arthur 60
Edward 59
Joseph 58
Alfred 52
Frederick 52
Ernest 43
Albert 40
Robert 38
Harry 34
Walter 33
Frank 32
Samuel 30
David 27
Herbert 22
Stephen 22
Edwin 20
Francis 12
Philip 10
Fredrick 9
Percy 9
Thos. 9
Wm. 9
Benjamin 8
Edmund 8
Lewis 8
Daniel 7
Fred 7
Fredk. 7
Horace 7
Jesse 7
Sydney 7
Frederic 6
Eli 5
Griffith 5
Harold 5
Oliver 5
Phillip 5
Sidney 5
Anthony 4
Jacob 4
Louis 4
Ralph 4

FAQ

Walter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Walter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,602 people were recorded with the Walter surname. That placed it at #972 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Walter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,046 in 2016. That gives Walter a modern rank of #1,677.

What does the Walter surname mean?

An occupational surname for a ruler or commanding officer, derived from German "walter" meaning "ruler" or "commander."

What does the Walter map show?

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