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

Walden, 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 Walden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Walden in America

Walden is the 1435th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Walden surname appeared 24,821 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Walden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Walden 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.

The history of the last name Walden

The surname Walden has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words 'weald' meaning 'forest' and 'denu' meaning 'valley', referring to people who lived in a wooded valley or forest clearing.

Walden is a locational surname, meaning it originated from a place name. The earliest recorded instance of the name Walden appears in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in 1166, where a person named William de Walda is mentioned. This early spelling variation suggests the name was likely derived from Walden, a town in Essex.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Walden. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as Waldene in Hertfordshire and Waleden in Essex, indicating the name's geographical origins.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Walden was Roger de Walden, who lived in the late 13th century and served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1395 to 1397. Another notable figure was Sir William de Walden, who was born in the late 13th century and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1370.

During the 15th century, the surname Walden appeared in various spellings, including Waldeyn, Waldene, and Walden. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Thomas Walden (c. 1420 - c. 1490), an English priest and theologian who served as the Provincial Minister of the Carmelite Order in England.

In the 16th century, the surname Walden continued to be found in various parts of England. One notable figure was Ralph Walden (c. 1516 - 1586), an English politician and Member of Parliament who represented Huntingdonshire in the House of Commons during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Over the centuries, the surname Walden has been associated with various places in England, including Walden in Essex, Saffron Walden in Essex, and Walden in Hertfordshire. While the name has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has been borne by several notable individuals across various fields, reflecting its enduring presence in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Walden

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

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 Walden was:

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 Walden has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Walden was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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