UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places named Walthall in England.
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Walthall surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 87, ranked #32,476, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Matlock and Leek. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walthall is 124 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.4%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
87
2016, ranked #32,476
Peak year
1901
124 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Walthall surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Walthall 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 | 37 | #26,673 |
| 1861 | historical | 51 | #27,498 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 90 | #25,399 |
| 1901 | historical | 124 | #20,163 |
| 1911 | historical | 117 | #20,757 |
| 1997 | modern | 88 | #28,611 |
| 1998 | modern | 81 | #29,849 |
| 1999 | modern | 81 | #30,037 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 82 | #29,714 |
| 2002 | modern | 86 | #29,771 |
| 2003 | modern | 88 | #29,506 |
| 2004 | modern | 86 | #30,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 84 | #30,359 |
| 2006 | modern | 88 | #30,160 |
| 2007 | modern | 93 | #29,777 |
| 2008 | modern | 86 | #31,114 |
| 2009 | modern | 81 | #32,172 |
| 2010 | modern | 84 | #32,289 |
| 2011 | modern | 84 | #32,237 |
| 2012 | modern | 86 | #32,297 |
| 2013 | modern | 83 | #32,813 |
| 2014 | modern | 85 | #32,743 |
| 2015 | modern | 86 | #32,604 |
| 2016 | modern | 87 | #32,476 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Matlock, Leek, Horsley and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. 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 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | Matlock | Derbyshire |
| 3 | Leek | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Horsley | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Walthall 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 Walthall, 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 Walthall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Walthall 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, Walthall 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 Walthall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Walthall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WALTHALL is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "weald" meaning a wood or forest, and "halh" meaning a nook or corner of land. It is a toponymic surname, meaning it was originally taken from a place name indicating someone who lived in a wooded area or forest clearing.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname WALTHALL can be traced back to the 12th century in various counties across southern England, particularly in Wiltshire, Dorset, and Somerset. Variations in spelling such as Walthall, Walthal, and Waltall were common in medieval records.
One of the earliest known references to the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire from 1196, where a Richard de Walthal is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also record a John de Walthal in Somerset.
In the 14th century, the name WALTHALL is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Dorset from 1327, listing a Walterus de Walthal. Additionally, the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1334 include a Willelmus Walthall.
A notable historical figure with the surname WALTHALL was Sir William Walthall (c. 1440-1516), a prominent judge and serjeant-at-law during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as a Justice of the King's Bench and is mentioned in various legal records from the period.
Another individual of note was Thomas Walthall (1570-1630), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1624 to 1625.
In the 17th century, Edward Walthall (1625-1692) was a prominent English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis and was involved in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
Later, in the 18th century, John Walthall (1718-1798) was a renowned British architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford.
Moving into the 19th century, Major General Edward Crofton Walthall (1834-1898) was a distinguished Confederate officer during the American Civil War, serving under General Robert E. Lee and commanding a brigade at the Battle of Chickamauga.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walthall 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. Derbyshire leads with 19 Walthalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.36x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 19 | 15.36x |
| Staffordshire | 19 | 7.13x |
| Cheshire | 18 | 10.32x |
| Lancashire | 14 | 1.49x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 1.28x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.26x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 12 Walthalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke Upon Trent | 12 | 42.43x |
| Sutton In Macclesfield | 10 | 552.49x |
| Macclesfield | 8 | 103.23x |
| Cheetham | 7 | 100.14x |
| Horsley | 7 | 945.95x |
| Sheffield | 6 | 24.08x |
| Titteworth | 6 | 1463.41x |
| Derby St Alkmund | 5 | 134.77x |
| Heeley | 4 | 168.07x |
| Openshaw | 4 | 91.12x |
| Duffield | 2 | 206.19x |
| Hulme | 2 | 10.22x |
| Litchurch | 2 | 40.16x |
| Cheadle | 1 | 78.13x |
| Clapham | 1 | 10.12x |
| Derby St Peter | 1 | 25.38x |
| Idridgehay Alton | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Manchester | 1 | 2.37x |
| Normanton | 1 | 96.15x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Walthall 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 Walthall 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 Walthall households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Silk Dyer | 5 |
| Silk Piecer | 4 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Silk Power Loom Weaver | 2 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Brooche Maker | 1 |
| Coalminer | 1 |
| Coppersmith | 1 |
| Day Waiter | 1 |
| Electro Plater | 1 |
| Engine Fitter (Tr) | 1 |
| Engine Tenter | 1 |
| Frame Work Knitter | 1 |
| Frock Maker | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Hair Dresser | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Magistrate Landowner | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Music Teacher | 1 |
| Office Clerk | 1 |
| Potter | 1 |
| Retired Boot Seller | 1 |
| Retired Silk Overlooker | 1 |
| Silk Dyers Wife | 1 |
| Silk Winder | 1 |
| Solicitor General Clerk (Law) | 1 |
| Stone Cutter | 1 |
| Table Knife Cutler | 1 |
| Tape Finisher | 1 |
| Tin Smith | 1 |
| Warehouse Assistant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Walthall surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016. That gives Walthall a modern rank of #32,476.
A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places named Walthall in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Walthall 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.