UK surname
A surname derived from a nickname for Walter or derived from the word "walt" meaning to rule or govern.
In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Walts surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #29,484 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walts is 835 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 79.3%.
1881 census count
29
Ranked #29,484
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1891
835 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Walts surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Walts 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 | 119 | #15,247 |
| 1861 | historical | 698 | #3,875 |
| 1881 | historical | 29 | #29,484 |
| 1891 | historical | 835 | #4,876 |
| 1901 | historical | 162 | #17,271 |
| 1911 | historical | 478 | #8,099 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth, Ramsbury and St Matthew Bethnal Green. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Ramsbury | Berkshire |
| 5 | St Matthew Bethnal Green | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Walts 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 Walts, 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 Walts surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Walts 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, Walts 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 Walts is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Walts, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WALTS is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place name, possibly from a town or village in one of the eastern counties of England, such as Norfolk or Suffolk.
One possible origin of the name WALTS is from the Old English word "walh," which referred to a foreigner or a Welshman. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who came from Wales or had Welsh ancestry.
Another theory is that WALTS is a variant of the more common surname "Walters," which is derived from the Germanic personal name "Walter," meaning "ruler of the army." This name was introduced to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
The earliest known record of the surname WALTS dates back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, a person named Henry Walts is mentioned as a resident of the county.
During the 14th century, the name WALTS appeared in various historical records across England. For example, in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from 1348, a man named John Walts is listed as a tenant.
One notable figure with the surname WALTS was Sir John Walts (c. 1450-1518), a prominent English lawyer and judge during the Tudor period. He served as a Justice of the Common Pleas and was knighted by King Henry VIII.
In the 16th century, a branch of the WALTS family settled in the county of Wiltshire, where they held lands and property. A notable member of this branch was Sir Thomas Walts (1532-1602), a Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Wiltshire.
Another individual of historical significance was Captain William Walts (1595-1659), an English explorer and navigator who was involved in the early colonization efforts in North America. He commanded several voyages to the New World and played a role in the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
During the 17th century, the surname WALTS continued to be found across various parts of England, with many families bearing the name residing in counties such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name WALTS in America dates back to the late 17th century, when a man named John Walts arrived in Virginia as an indentured servant in 1682.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walts 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 16 Walts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.86x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 16 | 5.86x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 8.16x |
| Buckinghamshire | 2 | 12.12x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 2.91x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 4.88x |
| Durham | 1 | 1.23x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.86x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.87x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George Hanover in Middlesex leads with 4 Walts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 112.36x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St George Hanover | 4 | 112.36x |
| Bromley London | 3 | 50.00x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 19.61x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 29.91x |
| Aston | 2 | 10.55x |
| Hornsey | 2 | 57.97x |
| Iver | 2 | 952.38x |
| Ordsall | 2 | 714.29x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 19.84x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 12.17x |
| Great Faringdon | 1 | 344.83x |
| Monkwearmouth Shore | 1 | 63.29x |
| Petersfield | 1 | 666.67x |
| Radford | 1 | 53.48x |
| West Ham | 1 | 8.41x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Walts 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 Walts 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 Walts households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker Unemployed | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Formerly A Governess | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Laborer North Rubber Works | 1 |
| Labourer In Shirt Trade Factory | 1 |
| Ladymaid | 1 |
| Lamp Cleaner G.N.R.Y. | 1 |
| OS Seamen | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Rly Clerk | 1 |
| Wharf Laborer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Walts surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Walts a modern rank of #38,110.
A surname derived from a nickname for Walter or derived from the word "walt" meaning to rule or govern.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Walts 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.