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

Wall, 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 Wall surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wall in America

Wall is the 631st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wall surname appeared 53,794 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 18 people would have the surname Wall.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wall 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 Wall

The surname WALL is an English topographic name that originated in the Middle Ages. It derives from the Old English word 'wall', referring to a defensive wall or rampart. The name likely arose as a way to identify someone who lived near or worked on a wall or fortification.

The earliest recorded instance of the WALL surname dates back to the 13th century. In 1273, a Robert de la Walle was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, England. This early spelling variation highlights the name's topographic origins.

The Domesday Book of 1086, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror, contains several place names that may have given rise to the WALL surname. These include Wall in Staffordshire, Walles in Worcestershire, and Walle in Norfolk.

Notable individuals with the WALL surname throughout history include John Wall (c.1585-1666), an English writer and clergyman who published several religious works. Thomas Wall (1593-1677) was an English Catholic priest and missionary who served in England during the turbulent times of the English Reformation.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the WALL surname is that of John Wall (1608-1688), an early settler in Virginia. He served as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and was a prominent figure in the colony.

Another notable bearer of the WALL surname was Richard Wall (1694-1778), an Irish politician and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Ireland from 1756 to 1757. He played a significant role in Irish politics during the 18th century.

Walter Wall (1701-1783) was a British military officer and colonial administrator who served as Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica from 1766 to 1768. He had a distinguished career in the British Army and was involved in various military campaigns.

The WALL surname has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions throughout the centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the defensive walls and fortifications of medieval England, reflecting the topographic nature of many English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wall

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

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

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

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