Walden
A surname usually taken from places named Walden, meaning a valley with a wood or forest.
The #1,435 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 12,439 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Walden is most commonly a locational surname, taken from places called Walden in England, especially the well-known Essex place now called Saffron Walden. The name is usually explained from Old English elements meaning "wood" or "forest" plus "valley," giving the sense "wooded valley" or "forest valley." Some historical writers also suggested a different reading from "the Welshmen's valley," but the woodland explanation is the usual one.
History
Medieval records show the name in forms such as de Waleden and de Waleden, used by people identified by residence or origin near Walden in Essex. The Essex place became especially influential because of the monastery there, which helped spread the surname. The name can also be found as a place-based surname from other Walden place-names in England.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Saffron Walden, the best-known place behind the surname, later became famous for saffron cultivation, which gave the town its modern name.
From the historical record
“Charter-Rolls A.D. 1383-5. WALDEN (Eng.) I Bel. to Walden, 13th cent, usually Waleden{e = (a) the Forest- Valley [O.E. w{e)ald, a forest -|- denu, a valley] Abbas de Waleden (Essex). — Charter-Rolls, A.D. 1234-5. (6) the Welshmen's Valley [O.E. Weala, genit. pi. of WealQi, a Welshman,”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)