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Show ContentsWalpole History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Walpole was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the country in 1066. The ancestors of the Walpole family lived in Norfolk, at Walpole. Looking back even further, we found the name was originally derived from the Old English words welle, meaning well, and pol, meaning pool, and refers to a pool formed by a well. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Walpole family

The surname Walpole was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat at the time of the Conquest at Freethorpe and Mershland. John of Walpole was nephew of Waleran, the great Essex Baron who was Count of Meulan in Normandy. 4

"Walpole, in Mershland, co. Norfolk, gave name to this historical family, and here Joceline de Walpole was living in the reign of Stephen. Reginald de Walpole, in the time of Henry I seems to have been the lineal ancestor of the house. He was father of Richard, who married Emma, daughter of Walter de Howton, or Houghton, which at a very early period became the family seat. 5

"Walpole is the name of parishes and villages in Norfolk. In the 13th century the surname of De Walpol was represented in this county, as well as in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire." 6

Interestingly, "according to the National Gazetteer (1868) Walpole St. Andrew and Walpole St. Peter Norfolk are both 'situated on the Roman sea-wall.' " 7

Further to the north in Scotland, the family is "most probably from Walpole in the county of Norfolk, England. Willelmus de Walepole witnessed confirmation of sale of the land of Scrogges to the Church of Glasgow, c. 1208-1213. Magister Adam de Walpol, cleric of the Church of Glasgow, c. 1235." 8

Early English rolls provide us a glimpse of the spelling variations used through Medieval times. Godfrey de Walpoli was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1198 in Norfolk and Henry de Walepol was found in Kent in the Curia Rgeis Rolls of 1230. William Walpol was registered in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1356; Andrewe Walpole and Thomas Walpole were later found in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1524. 9

Early History of the Walpole family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Walpole research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1558, 1560, 1595, 1621, 1637, 1650, 1660, 1668, 1676, 1678, 1683, 1689, 1700, 1722, 1726, 1735, 1745, 1757, 1929 and 1970 are included under the topic Early Walpole History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Walpole Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Walpole are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Walpole include Walpole, Walpolle, Wallpole and others.

Early Notables of the Walpole family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Henry Walpole (1558-1595), an English Jesuit martyr from Docking, Norfolk
  • Edward Walpole (1560-1637), an English Roman Catholic convert, who became known as a Jesuit missioner and preacher
  • Sir Edward Walpole (1621-1668), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1668
  • Colonel Robert Walpole (1650-1700), an English Whig politician, Member of Parliament for Castle Rising (1689-1700)
  • Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC (1676-1745), a British statesman who is generally regarded as the first Prime Minister of Great Britain

Ireland Migration of the Walpole family to Ireland

Some of the Walpole family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Walpole migration to the United States +

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Walpole, or a variant listed above:

Walpole Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Walpole, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 10
Walpole Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Walpole, who landed in Virginia in 1714 10
Walpole Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Walpole, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1802
  • Mathew F Walpole, who arrived in New York in 1836 10
  • James Walpole, who landed in America in 1841 10
  • G B Walpole, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 10

Australia Walpole migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Walpole Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • George Walpole, aged 30, Irish convict from Queens County, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on October 22nd, 1824, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr. Samuel Walpole, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Charles Kerr" on 6th June 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. John Walpole, (b. 1817), aged 20, English groom who was convicted in Norfolk, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 27th May 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
  • Christopher Walpole, English convict from Norfolk, who was transported aboard the "Adelaide" on August 08, 1849, settling in Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia 14
  • Thomas Walpole, aged 24, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Ramillies" 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Walpole migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Walpole Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Edward Walpole, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1859 16
  • Jane Walpole, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1859 16
  • Mr. Edward Walpole, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th October 1859 17
  • Miss Mary Walpole, (b. 1851), aged 19, English general servant, from Hampshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Ramsey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 17th June 1870 18

Contemporary Notables of the name Walpole (post 1700) +

  • Kathleen Walpole, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 2004 19
  • Frederick Vose Walpole, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Hampshire, 1864 19
  • George Henry Somerset Walpole (1854-1929), English Anglican priest, teacher and author
  • Douglas Thompson "Doug" Walpole (b. 1942), English-born, former Australian politician
  • Sir Spencer Walpole (1839-1907), English historian and politician, 10th Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man (1882-1893)
  • Hugh Seymour Walpole (1884-1941), New Zealand-born, English novelist who wrote thirty-six novels, five volumes of short stories, two original plays and three volumes of memoirs
  • Robert Horatio Walpole JP (1938-2021), 10th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 8th Baron Walpole of Wolterton, a British politician and hereditary peer, Member of the House of Lords until his retirement in 2017
  • Horatio Walpole (1723-1809), 1st Earl of Orford, a British Whig politician
  • George Walpole (1758-1835), British soldier and politician, Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1806-1807)
  • George Walpole (1730-1791), 3rd Earl of Orford, British peer and politician
  • ... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. James Walpole (d. 1912), aged 48, English Chief Pantry man from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 20

The Walpole Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fari quae sentiat
Motto Translation: To speak what he feels.
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  3. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  4. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  5. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  7. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  8. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  9. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  10. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  11. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
  12. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 1st February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/charles-kerr
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
  14. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 17) Adelaide voyage to Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia in 1849 with 303 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adelaide/1849
  15. South Australian Register Tuesday 11 January 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAMILLIES 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/ramillies1853.shtml
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  20. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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