Show ContentsWalker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Walker Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Walker

What does the name Walker mean?

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

  • Sir Edward Walker (1611-1677), Garter King of Arms in 1676
  • Robert Walker (c. 1597-1673), an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons of England (1640-1643) and (1661-1673), a strong Royalist during the English Civil War
  • Robert Walker (1599-1658), an English portrait painter, notable for his portraits of the "Lord Protector" Oliver Cromwell and other distinguished parliamentarians of the period
  • Thomas Walker (died 1665), an Oxford academic and administrator, twice Master of University College, Oxford
  • Obadiah Walker (1616-1699), an English academic from Darfield, South Yorkshire, Master of University College, Oxford from 1676 to 1688
  • William Walker, Mayor of Worcester in 1704
  • Francis Walker, Mayor of Worcester in 1744

Walker World Ranking

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
  • John Walker, and Isabel Walker, who all immigrated to Virginia in 1623
  • Mr. Roger Walker, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Providence" 16
  • Augustine Walker, who settled in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1630
  • Mr. Robert Walker of Lancashire who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, found in Boston 17
  • Mrs. Sarah Walker of Lancashire who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, found in Boston 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Walker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anne Walker, who landed in Virginia in 1702 18
  • Ellen Walker, who landed in Virginia in 1703 18
  • Christen Walker, who settled in New Bern, North Carolina in 1710
  • Adrius Walker, who arrived at Philadelphia in 1738
  • Adriess Walker, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Walker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Adam Walker, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1800 18
  • Eliza Walker, aged 24, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 18
  • Armstrong Walker, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1811 18
  • Edwin Walker, who was naturalized in Georgia in 1812
  • David Walker, aged 45, who arrived in Ohio in 1812 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Walker Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Archibald Dunn Walker, who arrived in California in 1901 18
  • Mr. Adam Walker, aged 13, Scottish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • Mr. Franklin J. Walker, Infant, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • Mr. John T. Walker, aged 5, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • Mrs. Sophia Walker, aged 27, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Walker migration to Canada +

Walker Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Walker, a mason who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1773 19
  • Mr. Hugh Walker U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 152 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA 20
  • Mrs. Martha Walker U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 295 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA 20
  • Miss. Harriot Walker D. U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 34 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA 20
  • Mr. Jacob Walker U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 20
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Walker Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Christopher Walker, who arrived in Canada in 1832
  • John Walker, aged 17, a shoemaker, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Margaret" from London, England
  • Matthew Walker, aged 30, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ugoni" from Belfast, Ireland
  • George Walker, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
  • Catherine Walker, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Walker migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. Samuel Walker, British settler convicted at Leicestershire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 15
  • Mrs. Mary Walker, (b. 1764), aged 24, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 16
Second Fleet
  • Miss Sarah Walker, (Frost), British settler convicted in London, England in 1791, sentenced to 7 years for shop lifting, transported aboard the ship "Albermarle" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 16
Third Fleet
  • Mr. John Walker, (b. 1764), aged 23, English carpenter convicted in London on 20th October 1784, sentenced for 7 years for stealing clothing, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 16
  • Mr. David Walker, British seaman on the Navy support ship for the First Fleet the "HMS Sirius" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Walker Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Walker, (b. 1785), aged 14, Irish baker who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life for political prisoner, transported aboard the  "Friendship" on 24th August 1799, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21
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
  • Mr. William Walker, Australian settler travelling from Port of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia on board the ship "David Owen" arriving in New Zealand in 1832 25
  • William Walker, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
  • John Walker, aged 26, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
  • Eliza Walker, aged 21, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
  • Thomas Walker, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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. 26
Walker Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Wm Walker, (b. 1613), aged 21, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 18
  • Mr. Joseph Walker, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 27
  • Miss Grace Walker, (b. 1601), aged 34, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 28
  • Mr. Thomas Walker, (b. 1616), aged 19, British settler traveling aboard the ship "John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 29
  • Mr. James Walker, (b. 1605), aged 30, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 30
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Walker (post 1700) +

  • Alice Malsenior Walker (b. 1944), American novelist awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1983 and inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2006 by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
  • Ann B. Walker (1923-2025), American journalist, editor, radio personality and businesswoman, inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame as the first woman broadcaster to report on the Ohio Legislature in 1978, the first Black woman from Franklin County to receive a presidential appointment
  • Joe Louis Walker Jr. (1949-2025), born Louis Joseph Walker Jr., an American musician, best known as an electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer
  • Clay Walker Jr. (b. 1969), born Ernest Clayton Walker Jr., an American country music artist whose debut hit in 1993 "What's It to You", reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart, as did its follow-up, 1994's "Live Until I Die"
  • Captain (USN, Ret.) David Mathieson Walker (1944-2001), American naval officer and aviator, fighter pilot, test pilot, and a NASA astronaut who flew aboard four Space Shuttle missions in the 1980s and 1990s 31
  • Jerry Allen Walker (1939-2024), American former professional baseball pitcher
  • Chester "Chet" Walker (1940-2024), American professional basketball player
  • Mary Willis Walker (1942-2023), American crime fiction author from Fox Point, Wisconsin
  • Robert Thomas Walker (1948-2023), American professional baseball pitcher
  • ... (Another 81 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Gregory Walker (1965-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Manning, South Carolina, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 32
  • Mr. Guy William Walker (1963-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Jacksonville, Arkansas, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 33
  • Norman Lindsay Walker (1919-1943), Australian Acting Corporal who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • Wendy "Jennie" Walker (1914-1943), Australian Sister who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • Mr. Thomas Lyle Walker (d. 1914), British Bedroom Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 33
  • ... (Another 43 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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 +

  • Ancestors and Descendants of the Walker Lathrop Family of Chelsea , Vermont by M. Gudmundson Walker.
  • The Genealogy of the Families of Formon-Boisclair, Walker, Beers, Lacy by Mary W. Meadows.
  • Genealogy of the Vale, Walker, Littler and Other Related Families by George Walker Vale.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Baring-Gould S., Family Names and their Story. London: Seeley, Service & Co. Limited, 1913. Print
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  8. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  9. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  10. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  11. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  12. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  13. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  14. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  15. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  16. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  17. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  18. 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)
  19. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  20. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  23. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
  24. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  25. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  26. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  27. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  28. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  29. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/daphne
  30. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  31. NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) David Walker. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/walker.html
  32. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  33. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html

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