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

Walstead, 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 Walstead surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Walstead in America

Walstead is the 106096th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Walstead surname appeared 168 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 Walstead.

We can also compare 2010 data for Walstead 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 Walstead

The surname Walstead is an English locational surname that originated in the county of Suffolk. It is derived from the Old English words "walu" meaning "valley" and "stede" meaning "place" or "farm". The name therefore refers to a farm or settlement located in a valley or low-lying area.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, with references found in records from Suffolk and neighboring counties. One of the earliest mentions is in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from 1275, which lists a Robert de Walstede.

In the 14th century, the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk from 1327 include a John de Walstede, while the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1376 mentions a Thomas Walstede. These early references suggest that the name was initially concentrated in the eastern counties of England, particularly Suffolk and Essex, before spreading to other regions over time.

The name Walstead has also been found in various historical documents and records throughout the centuries. For instance, the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, which recorded those who swore allegiance to the Protestant religion during the English Civil War, lists several individuals with the surname Walstead in various parts of England.

Notable individuals with the surname Walstead include:

1. John Walstead (1590-1658), an English clergyman who served as the Vicar of Waltham Holy Cross in Essex.
2. Thomas Walstead (1620-1679), a landowner and prominent figure in the village of Thorpe, Suffolk.
3. Elizabeth Walstead (1675-1742), a philanthropist who founded a charity school in the town of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
4. William Walstead (1725-1798), a merchant and shipping magnate from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
5. Robert Walstead (1810-1883), a noted architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

While the surname Walstead is not among the most common in England, it has a long and rich history, with its roots firmly planted in the rural landscapes of Suffolk and Essex. The name's origins and evolution reflect the migration patterns and cultural influences that have shaped the English language and its surnames over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Walstead

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

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

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

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