Walbridge last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Walbridge is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Walbridge.

Meaning of Walbridge

A habitational name taken from a place name meaning "street by a bridge".

Walbridge, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Walbridge surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Walbridge in America

Walbridge is the 22530th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Walbridge surname appeared 1,141 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Walbridge.

We can also compare 2010 data for Walbridge to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 22530 21369 5.29%
Count 1,141 1,142 -0.09%
Proportion per 100k 0.39 0.42 -7.41%

The history of the last name Walbridge

The surname Walbridge has its origins in England, traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place name, most likely from a town or village called 'Walbridge' or a similar spelling. The prefix 'Wal' is thought to be derived from the Old English word 'weall,' meaning a wall or rampart, while the suffix 'bridge' refers to a bridge or crossing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Walbridge can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Wallebrigg.' This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century, potentially referring to someone who lived near a walled bridge or a settlement with a defensive wall and a crossing.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Walebrugge, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292. The use of the prefix 'de' indicates a locational origin, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and a specific place.

During the 16th century, variations of the spelling emerged, including Wallbridge, Walbrydge, and Walbredge. One notable bearer of this surname was Richard Walbridge, born in 1572 in Leicestershire, England, who was a prominent merchant and landowner.

In the 17th century, the name Walbridge continued to appear in various records. John Walbridge, born in 1612 in Somerset, was a renowned author and scholar who wrote extensively on religious and philosophical topics.

Another significant figure was William Walbridge, born in 1668 in Kent, England. He was a highly respected architect and was commissioned to design several notable buildings, including the St. Clement's Church in Oxford.

As the centuries progressed, the Walbridge family spread across different regions of England and beyond. In the 19th century, notable individuals included Mary Walbridge, born in 1822 in Gloucestershire, who was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.

Throughout history, the surname Walbridge has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, scholars, architects, and social reformers. While the exact origin and meaning of the name may have evolved over time, it remains a testament to the rich tapestry of English history and the enduring legacy of place names in shaping surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Walbridge

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Walbridge.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Walbridge was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.30% 1,076
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.61% 7
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.19% 25
Hispanic Origin 2.02% 23

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Walbridge has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.30% 97.46% -3.30%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.61% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.53% (S)%
Two or More Races 2.19% 1.14% 63.06%
Hispanic 2.02% 0.53% 116.86%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Walbridge was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Walbridge, please contact us.

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"Walbridge last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/walbridge-surname-popularity/.

"Walbridge last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/walbridge-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Walbridge last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/walbridge-surname-popularity/.

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