Surname Walls - Meaning and Origin

Ending Assumptions: How My DNA Test Unveiled Multicultural Ancestry of the Walls

Upon receiving my iGENEA DNA test results, I embarked on an eye-opening journey that completely transformed my understanding of my ancestral lineage - The Walls. As I begin to unfold the complex quilt of my ethnicity, I am left astonished by the numerous cultural diversities interacting within my genes.

Z. Walls

Walls: What does the surname Walls mean?

The surname Walls is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old English word "weall", which means wall. Initially, it was likely used as a topographical surname for someone who lived by a prominent wall such as a Roman wall or the city wall. In some cases, it might have also been an occupational name for a person who worked as a builder of walls - a mason or bricklayer. Later, it might have evolved into a habitational name from places named Walls, such as those in Shetland and Orkney islands in Scotland. Like many surnames, Walls may have different origins and meanings in different cultures and languages, but the derivation mentioned is generally accepted. Remember, the interpretation of surnames is not an exact science and the meanings may have changed over centuries based on regional and cultural alterations.

Walls: Where does the name Walls come from?

The surname Walls is most common in the southern United States, particularly in the states of Mississippi, Alabama, and North Carolina. It is also common in parts of Georgia and Tennessee. It can be found in other states as well, including South Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia, as well as some areas of California, Texas, and Kentucky. The surname is especially prominent in African-American communities.

One of the earliest recorded uses of this surname was in the 18th century when a man with the name William Walls immigrated to the American colonies from England. In some of these colonies the family surname was subsequently changed to Wallace. Walls was a relatively common slave name in the southern United States and some slaves chose to keep it after the Civil War.

Walls is also found among white Americans, mostly in the South and in Appalachia. The name Walls is commonly of Scottish origin, being written "Wallace" or "Wallis" in Scotland and some parts of England. In the US, however, it is often thought to be derived either from German-Jewish immigrants or from a Native American word.

The Walls surname is still present and thriving in the United States today. People with the name are scattered across the US, particularly in the South.

Variations of the surname Walls

The surname Walls is derived from the Old English word "waella", meaning "spring or a stream". Variants of the surname include Wall, Walls and Walles, while spellings such as Walle, Wallis, Walley and Wals are also common. Other common surnames of the same origin include Waller, Wallers, Walling, Wallinger, Wallbank, Wallerstein and Wallingford.

The surname Walls was first found in north-east England, in counties such as Northumbria, Durham, Yorkshire and Lancashire, where the earliest records of the name date back to the twelfth century. It is possible that the surname Walls was derived from a topographic name referring to someone living near a spring or stream. Alternatively, the name may have been derived from Wall, an Old English personal name derived from the word "waella", meaning "stranger or foreigner".

In the United States, the spelling Walls was made popular by Scottish and English emigrants who arrived in America between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. The earliest public records of the surname in the New World can be found in Virginia, with the earliest record being John Walls, who is thought to have arrived in the colony of Wilmington, Delaware in 1727.

Today, the surname Walls is common throughout the English-speaking world. In the United States, there are anomalous distributions of the Walls surname, with the highest concentrations found in states such as West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri. In Canada, the Walls surname is most commonly found in the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. In the United Kingdom, the Walls surname is most commonly found in counties such as Berkshire, Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Famous people with the name Walls

• Pink (Alecia Beth Moore): Singer-songwriter, actress and philanthropist.
• Sie Slater: American television personality and former actress.
• Althea Walls: Former NFL player in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Isaac Walls: professional football player who is currently a free agent.
• Deovan Walls: Wide Receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.
• Adama Walls: Former Canadian Football League defensive back for the Calgary Stampeders.
• Tyree Walls: Professional basketball player currently with the Kansas City Tornadoes.
• A. J. Walls: Former American football cornerback for the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
• Karlita Walls: Professional basketball player with the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA.
• David Walls: Film and television actor, best known for his role in the television series, “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”.

Other surnames

WallWallaceWallanderWallardWallasWallbankWallbanksWallbaumWallbergWallbrechtWallburgWalldarWalldeckWalldockWallduckWallenWallenbornWallenczusWallendschusWallendszusWallendzusWallenßusWallentaWallentinWallentowitschWallentowitzWallenzusWallerWallersheimWallerstein