History of your Surname
Get access to Walford family records.Start a free trial

Walford Family History

Walford Name Meaning

English:: habitational name from one or more of several places so named such as Walford (Herefordshire) Walford in Leintwardine (also Herefordshire) Walford in Baschurch (Shropshire) and possibly Walford Hall in Hampton in Arden (Warwickshire) though this last may be a manorial placename deriving from the surname. The Herefordshire placenames probably derive from Old English walh ‘foreigner Welshman’ (genitive plural wala) + ford ‘ford’. The Shropshire placename derives from Old English wella ‘well spring stream’ + ford. If it does not derive from the surname the Warwickshire placename probably has the same etymology as the Herefordshire placenames. perhaps occasionally a habitational name from Walford in Wimborne Minster (Dorset). The placename probably derives from Old English walt ‘unsteady’ + ford ‘ford’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Welford, Alford, Halford, Wilford, Galford, Watford, Wolford, Warford

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Walford family from?

You can see how Walford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Walford family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Walford families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 356 Walford families living in London. This was about 18% of all the recorded Walford's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Walford families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Walford surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Walford ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Walford. 12% of Walford men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Walford women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Walford were Carpenter and Unpaid Domestic. .

View Census Data for Walford | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    12%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Carpenter
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Walford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 51,000 census records available for the last name Walford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Walford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Walford

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Walford. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Walford immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Walford. For the veterans among your Walford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Walford military records

You've only scratched the surface of Walford family history

Discover More

What is the average Walford lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Walford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Walford in 1947 was 39, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Walford

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Walford family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Walford last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial