Surname Walton - Meaning and Origin

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C. Walton

Walton: What does the surname Walton mean?

The surname Walton originates from England and is said to be a locational name. It primarily derives from common place names such as Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex, or Walton-on-Thames in Surrey. The name "Walton" itself means "town or settlement by the wall” in Old English, derived from the terms 'wal' or 'weall' meaning wall (which later evolved to mean castle, Roman fortification) and 'tun' meaning town or settlement. It was often used to denote someone who lived near a castle, town defense wall, or other significant fortified structure. Like many surnames, it served a practical purpose, helping to identify individuals in relation to their residence or place of origin. Over time and with migration, the name has spread to other parts of the world.

Walton: Where does the name Walton come from?

The last name Walton is most common in England, specifically in the counties of Lancashire, West Yorkshire, and Cheshire. The Walton name has spread to other countries as well, particularly through immigration throughout the decades. In the United States, Walton is the 590th most common surname, concentrated specifically in the states of Virginia, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. It is also popular in Ireland, Canada, and Australia, with other small pockets spread around the globe in France, Sweden, and South Africa.

The Walton family is believed to have been established in the Lancashire region around 1150. It has since been a prominent surname in English society. One of the earliest known members of the Walton family, Randulph, was a Baron of Warrington. Over the centuries, many members of the Walton family have served in various positions of power. One example is Sir William de Walton, who was a justice of the common bench during the reign of Edward III.

The earliest known record of the Walton surname in the United States is from 1631, when a Thomas Walton is recorded in Maryland. Since then, many other members of the Walton family have relocated to America, often in search of a better life. Today, the Walton name is associated with wealthy entrepreneurs, notably Sam Walton, founder of the Walmart chain of stores. However, it is also very common amongst the general population and is still prevalent in Lancashire, West Yorkshire, and Cheshire.

Variations of the surname Walton

The surname Walton is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from a topographic name from the Middle English term "walt," meaning "stream," and the Old English suffix "tun," meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." The name has become popular in many forms and spellings since its development in the Middle Ages.

Variants of Walton include Woltin, Walten, Waltyn, Wauton, Waulton, Weltin, Weltone, Walen, and Walin. Spellings of the surname in some regions tend to be affected by local dialects. For example, in Cornwall, the surname can be found spelled as Wollton and Woltan, while in some Northern regions of England, the name is commonly spelled as Whalton, Whaulton, and Whalten.

The surname Walton is particularly popular in the United States, with its largest pockets of concentration found in Texas, California, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Georgia. There are also large concentrations of the surname in Germany, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.

The Walton family has many branches and several noteworthy related surnames, including Waldon, Waltonen, Whelton, Whelan, and Welton.

Famous people with the name Walton

• Sam Walton: Sam Walton was an American businessman and entrepreneur best known for founding the retail chain Walmart and Sam's Club. His Walton family is one of the wealthiest in the world.
• Alice Walton: Alice Walton is an American heiress and philanthropist. She is the daughter of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, and is the chairwoman of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
• Jim Walton: Jim Walton is an American businessman who is the chairman and CEO of Arvest Bank Group, which his father, Sam Walton, founded. He is also the third–richest person alive with a net worth of over $63 billion.
• John Walton: John Walton was a NASCAR driver and son of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart. Tragically, he died in a plane crash in Wyoming in 2005.
• Rob Walton: Rob Walton is a businessman and philanthropist. He is the eldest son of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, and served as Walmart's chairman from 1992 to 2015. He has a net worth of over $50 billion.
• Steuart Walton: Steuart Walton is a businessman and philanthropist. He is heir to the Walmart fortune and is the nephew of Alice, Jim, and Rob Walton.
• Christy Walton: Christy Walton is an American billionaire heiress. She is the widow of John Walton, the son of Walmart founder Sam Walton, and is currently the richest woman in the world with a net worth of over $50 billion.
• Ben Walton: Ben Walton is a multibillionaire businessman and philanthropist. He is the son of Walmart founder Sam Walton and the brother of Alice, Jim, Rob, and Steuart Walton.
• Ted Walton: Ted Walton is a multibillionaire businessman and philanthropist. He is the brother of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, and is the founder and CEO of Walton International Group.

Other surnames

Waltor