Walker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

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The origins of the Walker surname lie with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name Walker began when someone in that family worked as a fuller, whose job it was to scour and thicken raw cloth by beating it and trampling it in water. The surname Walker is derived from the Old English word wealcere, which means fuller. "In the North of England, fullers' earth is called 'walker's clay,' and a fulling-mill a 'walk-mill.' In Scotland, to walk, still means to full cloth." 1

This occupation has a long history as "cloth before the introduction of the roller had to be trodden underfoot. In Wyckliffe’s version of the Transfiguration he describes Christ’s raiment as shining so as no 'fullers or walkers of cloth' could whiten." 2

Early Origins of the Walker family

The surname Walker was first found in Yorkshire, where they were believed to be descended from a very ancient tribe called the Wealceringas, and the name is considered to be one of the oldest in England. Their early records have been obscured but in the 12th century, they were recorded as landholders in Yorkshire.

"This name is mainly characteristic of the midlands and of the north of England. It is comparatively infrequent in the counties between the Wash and the Thames. It is absent or rare in the southern part of England south of a line joining the mouths of the Thames and the Severn. Its great home in the midlands is in the counties of Derby and Nottinghamshire. In the north it is most frequent in Durham and Yorkshire." 3

One of the first records of the family was Richard le Walkere, recorded in Warwickshire c. 1248. The Assize Rolls of 1260 listed Robert le Walker in 1260. 4 Later, Richard le Walker was rector of the church of St. Elphin, Warrington, Lancashire in 1396. 5

Early History of the Walker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Walker research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1248, 1260, 1324, 1361, 1563, 1597, 1599, 1611, 1616, 1618, 1640, 1643, 1658, 1661, 1665, 1673, 1676, 1677, 1688, 1699, 1704, 1725, 1744 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Walker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Walker Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Walker has appeared include Walker, Walkere and others.

Early Notables of the Walker family

Distinguished members of the family include

Walker World Ranking

In the United States, the name Walker is the 25th most popular surname with an estimated 544,653 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Walker is ranked the 41st most popular surname with an estimated 41,592 people with that name. 7 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Walker is the 920th popular surname. 8 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Walker as 606th with 75 people. 9 France ranks Walker as 6,973rd with 1,000 - 1,500 people. 10 Australia ranks Walker as 14th with 56,838 people. 11 New Zealand ranks Walker as 13rd with 6,485 people. 12 The United Kingdom ranks Walker as 11st with 140,155 people. 13 South Africa ranks Walker as 830th with 8,390 people. 14

Migration of the Walker family to Ireland

Some of the Walker family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 135 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Walker migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Walker arrived in North America very early:

Walker Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Walker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Walker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Walker Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Walker migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Walker Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Walker Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Walker migration to Australia +

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

Walker Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Walker 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:

Walker Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Walker migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 24
Walker Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Walker (post 1700) +


The Walker 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: Honesta Quam Magna
Motto Translation: How Great are Honourable Deeds.


Suggested Readings for the name Walker +
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