UK surname
An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "worth" or "enclosure" belonging to someone named "Wal."
In the 1881 census there were 147 people recorded with the Walworth surname, ranking it #15,674 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #15,674 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Northfield, Rochdale and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Walworth is 280 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.4%.
1881 census count
147
Ranked #15,674
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1861
280 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Walworth surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Walworth surname density by area, 1881 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 | 114 | #15,716 |
| 1861 | historical | 280 | #8,953 |
| 1881 | historical | 147 | #15,674 |
| 1891 | historical | 161 | #17,473 |
| 1901 | historical | 109 | #21,712 |
| 1911 | historical | 91 | #23,684 |
| 1997 | modern | 50 | #32,658 |
| 1998 | modern | 50 | #32,899 |
| 1999 | modern | 50 | #33,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 55 | #32,609 |
| 2001 | modern | 48 | #33,129 |
| 2002 | modern | 50 | #33,282 |
| 2003 | modern | 46 | #33,710 |
| 2004 | modern | 47 | #33,819 |
| 2005 | modern | 48 | #33,932 |
| 2006 | modern | 47 | #34,335 |
| 2007 | modern | 44 | #34,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 47 | #34,699 |
| 2009 | modern | 46 | #34,918 |
| 2010 | modern | 48 | #34,946 |
| 2011 | modern | 42 | #35,283 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 49 | #34,991 |
| 2015 | modern | 49 | #34,946 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Northfield, Rochdale, Manchester, Bradford and Keighley. 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 | Northfield | Worcestershire |
| 2 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Keighley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Walworth 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 Walworth, 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 Walworth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Walworth 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, Walworth 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 Walworth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Walworth, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WALWORTH has its origins in England, dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from a place name, referring to a settlement or village located in the county of Surrey. The name likely stems from the Old English words "weall" meaning "wall" and "worth" meaning "enclosure" or "estate", suggesting a walled or fortified settlement.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the WALWORTH name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. This historical document lists individuals bearing the name in various parts of England, indicating its widespread use at the time.
The WALWORTH surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Sir William Walworth, who lived in the 14th century and served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1374 to 1375. He gained fame for his role in suppressing the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, during which he allegedly killed the rebel leader Wat Tyler.
Another prominent figure was James Walworth, an English-born American jurist who lived from 1765 to 1848. He served as a judge in New York and played a significant role in shaping the state's legal system during its formative years.
In the literary world, the name WALWORTH was carried by Jeannette Leonard Gilder, an American writer and editor who lived from 1849 to 1916. She was known for her work in promoting the works of female authors and her advocacy for women's rights.
The WALWORTH surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England. For instance, the village of Walworth in County Durham and the area of Walworth in London both derive their names from the same linguistic roots as the surname.
Another notable figure bearing the WALWORTH name was Sir John Walworth, who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1370. He was instrumental in negotiating a peace treaty between England and France during the Hundred Years' War.
While the WALWORTH surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period in England, where it initially emerged as a place name before becoming a widespread surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Walworth 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. Lancashire leads with 38 Walworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.22x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 38 | 2.22x |
| Yorkshire | 36 | 2.52x |
| Staffordshire | 17 | 3.49x |
| Durham | 15 | 3.49x |
| Cheshire | 14 | 4.39x |
| Northumberland | 8 | 3.73x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.48x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 2.65x |
| Kent | 4 | 0.81x |
| Devon | 3 | 1.00x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hunslet in Yorkshire leads with 15 Walworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.26x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hunslet | 15 | 67.26x |
| Cockfield | 11 | 1833.33x |
| Eccleshall | 11 | 594.59x |
| Castleton | 10 | 58.45x |
| Chester St Oswald | 9 | 155.98x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 9 | 33.08x |
| Manningham | 7 | 39.73x |
| Horton In Bradford | 6 | 26.86x |
| Keighley | 6 | 39.34x |
| Mile End Old Town | 6 | 26.34x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 6 | 46.77x |
| Wolstanton | 6 | 40.54x |
| Bromsgrove | 5 | 78.86x |
| Margate St John Baptist | 4 | 44.35x |
| Pemberton | 4 | 58.57x |
| Trimdon | 4 | 263.16x |
| Blackburn | 3 | 6.58x |
| Culcheth | 3 | 267.86x |
| Brereton Cum Smethwick | 2 | 666.67x |
| Hurdsfield | 2 | 102.04x |
| Leeds | 2 | 2.48x |
| Oldham | 2 | 3.62x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 2 | 8.64x |
| West Derby | 2 | 3.99x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.08x |
| Everton | 1 | 1.83x |
| Heap | 1 | 11.01x |
| Higher Bebington | 1 | 49.02x |
| Hindley | 1 | 13.70x |
| Litherland | 1 | 27.93x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 0.96x |
| Rothbury | 1 | 161.29x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 1.60x |
| Stoke Damerel | 1 | 4.76x |
| Wall | 1 | 500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Walworth surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 11 |
| Elizabeth | 9 |
| Jane | 6 |
| Catherine | 4 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Eleanor | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Lilly | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Alas | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Bathea | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Elise | 1 |
| Eliz. | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Eveline | 1 |
| Florance | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Helena | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Josephine | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rosely | 1 |
| Sarbana | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
| Violetta | 1 |
| Winifred | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Walworth 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 Walworth households.
FAQ
In 1881, 147 people were recorded with the Walworth surname. That placed it at #15,674 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Walworth a modern rank of #35,162.
An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "worth" or "enclosure" belonging to someone named "Wal."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Walworth 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.