Walter
An occupational surname for a ruler or commanding officer, derived from German "walter" meaning "ruler" or "commander."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 55,800 Americans carry the last name Walter. That puts it at #727 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 16.28 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 6,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Walter surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
56K
1 in 6,143
Census rank
#727
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
16.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
48K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 48,024 bearers of the surname Walter in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 16.28 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 727th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Walter, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.6%. The next largest groups are Black (6.2%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Walter
The surname Walter originated in Germany, emerging in the 8th century AD during the Carolingian dynasty. It is derived from the Old German words "waltan," meaning to rule or govern, and "heri," meaning army. The name was likely initially used as a descriptive byname for someone in a position of authority or a military leader.
In its earliest form, the name was spelled "Walther" or "Waltheri." One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Fulda Monastery records from the 9th century, which mention a monk named "Waltheri." The name also appears in the Codex Traditionum of the Benedictine abbey of Reichenau in the 10th century.
During the Middle Ages, the surname Walter was particularly prevalent in the regions of modern-day Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It was often associated with nobility and landowners, as evidenced by its appearance in various charters and records of the time.
One notable historical figure bearing the name Walter was Walter of Châtillon (c. 1135 – c. 1201), a medieval French theologian, philosopher, and poet. Another was Walter von der Vogelweide (c. 1170 – c. 1230), a celebrated German lyric poet of the Middle High German period.
In England, the name Walter was introduced following the Norman Conquest in 1066. It was initially spelled "Walteri" or "Walterus." One of the earliest recorded examples is Walter Giffard, a Norman lord who was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding lands in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Throughout the centuries, the surname Walter has been associated with various notable individuals, including Sir Walter Raleigh (c. 1554 – 1618), an English writer, poet, and explorer; Walter Scott (1771 – 1832), a Scottish novelist and playwright; and Walter Cronkite (1916 – 2009), an American broadcast journalist known as "the most trusted man in America."
The surname Walter has also been linked to several place names, such as Walter's Ash in Buckinghamshire, England, and Waltersville, Ohio, in the United States, both named after individuals bearing the surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Walter
Among Census respondents with the surname Walter, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.6%. The next largest groups are Black (6.2%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Walter bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Walter surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.6%
- Black or African American6.2%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Walter surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #651 | #727 | -11.7% |
| Count | 47,615 | 48,024 | 0.9% |
| Per 100K | 17.65 | 16.28 | -7.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Walter bearers went from 47,615 to 48,024 (+0.9% change). The surname moved down 76 positions in the national ranking, going from #651 to #727.
FAQ
Walter surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Walter?
The surname Walter holds position #727 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 55,800 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 16.28 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Walter surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Walter, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.6%. The next largest groups are Black (6.2%) and Hispanic (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.