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

Walton, 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 Walton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Walton in America

Walton is the 446th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Walton surname appeared 73,854 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 25 people would have the surname Walton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Walton 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 Walton

The surname Walton has its origins in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "walh" and "tun," which together mean "the farm or settlement of the foreigners or strangers." This suggests that the name may have been given to people who lived in areas inhabited by immigrants or those of foreign descent.

The name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This record shows that there were people bearing the surname Walton residing in various counties, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Walton was Radulfus de Waltona, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1190. These rolls were financial records kept by the English government, indicating that Radulfus de Waltona was likely a landowner or taxpayer at the time.

The surname Walton is also associated with several place names in England, such as Walton-on-the-Hill in Surrey, Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex, and Walton-on-Thames in Surrey. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Walton include:

1. Izaak Walton (1593-1683), an English writer best known for his book "The Compleat Angler," a classic work on the art of fishing.
2. William Walton (1902-1983), an English composer known for works such as the First Symphony and the opera "Troilus and Cressida."
3. Sam Walton (1918-1992), the founder of Walmart, one of the largest retail chains in the world.
4. Ernest Walton (1903-1995), an Irish physicist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1951 for his work on the splitting of atoms.
5. William Walton (1784-1857), an English theologian and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of calculus.

Throughout its history, the surname Walton has been associated with various occupations, including farming, fishing, and more recently, business and academia. Its longevity and widespread use across England and beyond make it a fascinating example of how surnames can reflect the cultural and linguistic influences of a particular region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Walton

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

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

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

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