Surname Walthall - Meaning and Origin

Walthall: What does the surname Walthall mean?

The surname Walthall is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from a place name. It is believed to have originated from Waldale, a place in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It's a topographical surname given to someone who lived near a forest valley, as it combines the Old English words “wald” meaning “forest,” and “halh," meaning “nook or recess.” Surnames at that time were often used to describe where a person lived, so someone called Walthall would have been associated with such a location. Over time, as people migrated, the name spread to other areas. English surnames of this type were usually derived from the places where the original bearers lived or held land. Note that the meaning and origin of surnames can vary, based on regional differences and linguistic evolution. Some Walthalls today are found in the United States, a lineage that likely began with emigrations from the UK in the past centuries.

Walthall: Where does the name Walthall come from?

The Walthall surname is most commonly found in the United States, in particular in the South. Mississippi has the most Walthall families, followed closely by Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee. Walthall families can also be found in other Southern states, including Texas, Georgia, and Arkansas. The Walthall name can be traced back to the early 1600s in colonial Virginia, and while some Walthalls may have been slave holders, others were early pioneers who helped settle the West. Walthall families likely adopted their name from nearby Walthall County, Mississippi.

The Walthall surname is prominent in small-town life, and their large extended families remain close-knit and connected across generations. Today, Walthall families can be found across the United States in a variety of professions and industries. From rural farming communities to small towns to big cities, the Walthall name is a much respected and admired part of American life.

Variations of the surname Walthall

The surname Walthall is of English origin and is derived from a location. It is a topographic name for someone who lived near a wall formed of a species of walnut tree known as 'walh' in Old English. This name is found in various spellings, such as Walthall, Wollard, Wollerton, Wallard, Wodelar, Wolder, Wollardes, Walkard, Woltham, Wollands, and Walford. It is also found as a variant of the surnames Waldron and Weller.

The name Walthall appears to have its origin in the county of Worcestershire, and the earliest record of the name is found in the Worcestershire Charters of the 9th and 10th centuries AD. In this period, the name was spelt as Walhhawell, Waldhal and Waldhalle, suggesting that it was an early form of the modern day Walthall.

The name Walthall can be found in different regions across the world, particularly in the United States and Canada. It is most popular in the United States, where it is ranked 1,282 in terms of popularity. In Canada, it is ranked 15,445 in terms of prevalence. In addition to the United States and Canada, the surname Walthall can be found in Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.

The surnames Walthall and its variants are believed to have been derived from a place name, and it is likely that members of a family with the same name would have originated in the same area. The genealogical search of the name Walthall and its variants can help one to trace back to the possible origin of the family.

Famous people with the name Walthall

• Henry B. Walthall: American film actor, best known for his leading role in the 1915 silent film The Birth of a Nation.
• Billy Walthall: American actor and writer, best known for his roles in films like Jupiter's Darling and The Ten Commandments.
• William C. Walthall: American politician who represented Mississippi in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1873 to 1887.
• Hallie E. Walthall: American journalist and newspaper editor who wrote about the Jim Crow era of the American South.
• Stanley Walthall: American politician, lawyer, and writer who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from 1912 to 1916.
• Paul W. Walthall: an American religious leader and former president of the Worldwide Church of God.
• Frank Walthall: American architect and a prominent figure in the American Craftsman movement.
• Thomas Walthall: an American jazz drummer, best known for his influential recordings with Duke Ellington.
• Patsy Ruth Walthall: an American silent film actress who was active from the 1910s to the early 1930s.
• Edward Walthall Jr.: American actor and writer, best known for his roles in films like The Godfather and The Thomas Crown Affair.

Other surnames

WalthartWalthausen