Surname Walston - Meaning and Origin

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Q. Walston

Walston: What does the surname Walston mean?

The surname Walston is of English origin and dates back to the time of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It's a geographical or locational surname derived from an existing place named Walston, located in the county of Cambridgeshire in eastern England. The place name 'Walston' itself is believed to have been derived from the Old English personal name 'W(e)aldhere' which could mean 'powerful army', combined with 'tun' meaning 'enclosure', 'settlement', or 'farm'. Therefore, the surname Walston could mean 'settlement of W(e)aldhere' or 'farmstead or village of the powerful army'. Over time, English surnames have gone through many spelling variations, creating several variations for the name Walston like Wollaston, Wollstan, Woolston, amongst others.

Walston: Where does the name Walston come from?

The last name Walston is a surname of English origin. The origin of the name can be traced back to a place-name in northern Shropshire, England; Walston was originally a localised version of Waldestune, a settlement near Shrewsbury.

The last name Walston is still commonly found in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and in the former British colonies, such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In the United States, the name is also quite common.

In the U.S., the most recent census (2010) reported that the last name Walston was the 3,518th most popular surname among individuals living in the United States, with approximately 6,006 recorded instances of the surname. The most prominent state with the surname Walston is California, with approximately 2,944 instances of the name being recorded. Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania also have significant populations of Walstons.

Outside of the U.S. and the United Kingdom, Walston can also be found in Australia, Canada, and a few Caribbean islands.

In general, the surname of Walston is most prevalent in English-speaking countries. It is a relatively common surname in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other areas with significant English-speaking populations.

Variations of the surname Walston

Walston is a surname of English origin, and is believed to have been derived from the Old English word of ‘wealhstān’ which translates to ‘foreigner's stone’ or ‘stranger’s stone’. Walston is usually spelled as one word though sometimes it is seen as two words; Wal Stan or Wallston.

Variants of this surname include Wallstan, Walestan, Waalstaan, Wallstane, Walestone, Walsten, Wallstein, Walstain, and Waalstein. It is a relatively common British surname but is not found in large numbers in other parts of the world.

The spelling Waalstaan was common in the Netherlands in the 1600s. Wallstown and Wallstane are some of the more common variants seen in Ireland.

The spelling Walsten is found commonly in the United States, especially in Pennsylvania, and is believed to be an Americanizing of the Dutch surname Waalstaan. The spellings Walstain and Wallstein are frequently found in Scotland.

Surnames that are believed to be related to or derived from Walston include Welston, Wellstone, Walson, Walison, Walshon, Welshawn, and Welshmen. Most of these, such as Wellston and Walshon, have been derived from the addition of an 's' onto the original spelling of Walston.

In total, there are around fifteen known variants, spellings, and surnames related to Walston.

Famous people with the name Walston

• Ray Walston: Actor known for his roles as Uncle Martin in My Favorite Martian, Jud Fry in Oklahoma!, and Judge Henry Bone in Picket Fences
• Hal Walters: American football quarterback who played in the National Football League from 1935 to 1937
• Lawrence Walston: American film producer, director, and executive producer of feature films and television
• Maudelle Tanner Brown: Former African American educator and politician
• Jimmy Walston: English football player and manager who played for a number of English clubs, including Chelsea and Fulham
• George Walston: British Grand Prix motorcycle racer
• Emmett Walston: US Congressman from North Carolina
• Karen Walston: American author, speaker and ordained Christian minister
• Ashlee Walston: American singer and songwriter
• Sam Walston: American singer and songwriter

Other surnames

Walstone