Surname Walter - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling Ancestral Mysteries: How iGENEA DNA Test Illuminated My Perceptions

Embarking on a journey through time and heritage, I discovered extraordinary insights about my ancestor, Walter, through the iGENEA DNA test. The revelations were surprising, painting a detailed portrait of Walter and reshaping my self-understanding along the way.

A. Walter

Walter: What does the surname Walter mean?

The surname Walter is of Germanic origin and is derived from a given name popular during the Middle Ages. This name "Walter" is composed of elements meaning "rule" and "army". The Old German personal name "Walthari" the elements "wald" which means rule, and "heri" which means army, combine to mean "ruler of the army." This name was popular among the Continental Germanic peoples, and the Normans introduced it in England where it replaced the Old English equivalent "Wealdhere". After the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, the name became extremely popular in Britain. As the first name Walter started to become less common as a given name over centuries, it started to be adopted as a surname. The name spread throughout the Anglosphere, including Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and the USA. It's a fairly common surname, with notable bearers including English poet Edmund Waller, and more contemporary figures like actor Mark Wahlberg and publisher Malcolm Forbes. Overall, the surname "Walter" invokes a sense of leadership and strength, fitting for its military origins.

Walter: Where does the name Walter come from?

The last name Walter is most common in Europe and the United States. In Germany, the name was primarily spread through early migrations from western Germany. This is evidenced by its high prevalence in the state of Bavaria. It is also common in nearby countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.

In the United Kingdom, the name has been present since the early medieval era. In Scotland, it is mostly found in the northern parts, particularly around the cities of Glasgow and Aberdeen. In the rest of the UK, the name is fairly evenly spread across large swathes of England and Wales.

In the United States, Walter and its variants can be found in all fifty states. The state of Ohio has the highest amount of people with this surname. Other states with notable populations include Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, and North Carolina.

On a global level, the surname is widespread and has a fair distribution. It is especially popular in countries with German heritage, such as Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. It is also quite common in France, mainly due to the influx of Huguenots in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Overall, the last name Walter has a truly global presence. It is a common surname in Europe and the United States, as well as in parts of South America and Canada. The name is also prevalent in the United Kingdom and France. Thus, it appears that today it can be found in nearly all corners of the globe.

Variations of the surname Walter

Walter is a Germanic name derived from the Old High German masculine name Walthari, meaning "ruler of the army", as well as Waldhari, meaning "strong in war". Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Walther, Walthaire, Waldair, Waltyr, Walsh, Walser, Walworth, Walton, Walsten, Walstenburgh, Walstrum, Waltar, Walten, and Woltaire.

Walter is the 825th most common last name in the United States and the 32nd most common surname in Germany. It is also a popular surname in Austria, England, and the Netherlands. In Scotland, Walter is the 614th most frequent surname.

The surnames of Germanic origin Walther and Waltheof are both derived from Walter. Other forms of the surname include the Slavic spelling Valter, Volter or Valtera, the French Valter, the Italian Valtero, the Russian Valterov and the Jewish Vilter, Vilderowicz, and Vilder.

The feminine form of Walter is Waltraud or Valterina. Other feminine forms of this surname include Waltraut, Waltruda, Valtruda, Waltrudis, Walthraude, and Valtru. These surname variants have spread geographically to Estonia, Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania.

The patronymic form of Walter is Walters, which is an uncommon given name in the United States and is frequently spelled Walthar, Walther, or Walterus. Variants of this trend have also spread to Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Scotland, and Sweden.

Famous people with the name Walter

• John Walter, 18th-century English inventor
• Michael Walter, German biathlete
• Trautman Walter, Austrian Olympic four-man bobsled pilot
• Edward Walter, British geologist
• Alice Walter, American-born British painter
• Hugh Walter, New Zealand scientist
• Chris Walter, Canadian singer-songwriter
• Michael Walter, American actor and musician
• Jesse Walter Fewkes, American ethnographer
• Victor Walter, Swiss racing driver
• Silvia Walter, Austrian director and actress
• Hannah Walter, English cricketer
• Allen Walter, Canadian actor
• Chris Walter, American technology executive and entrepreneur
• Alphonse Walter, French boxer
• Christie Walter, British actress
• Jerome Walter, German football coach
• Rob Walter, New Zealand cricketer
• John E. Walter, American politician
• Harry Walter, Australian footballer

Other surnames

WaltenWalteringWalterkötterWaltermannWältermannWaltersWalterscheidWalterscheidtWalterschenWalterskoetterWalterskötterWaltersmannWaltert