Wallbank (surname)

The surname Wallbank is most likely of Lancastrian origin. Although some claim Nottinghamshire. It refers to a dweller by river or stream.

Most bearers are located in the North-West of England (most notably in Preston and Blackburn(Lancashire) as well as Westmorland and Staffordshire) and to a lesser extent Shropshire and Cheshire. The name is also found in Monmouthshire, a county of Wales, during the 19th century a group of bearers of the name settled there. The first bearer was recorded in 1332 and was called Adam de Wallbank. In 1662 an Edd Wallbank emigrated to Charles County, Virginia. There is also a small community of bearers in Malta.

It is a rare surname, and as of 2007, there are 1557 bearers on the electoral roll.Fact|date=February 2008 There are some derivatives such as Wellbank, Wallbanks, and Walbech.

The Victoria County History of Lancashire Vol. 6 records several Wallbanks earlier than Adam de Wallbank. One of the earliest references to Wallbank was in the late 13th century in Church Kirk , near Blackburn in Lancashire where records show that Wallbanks resided from before 1289 to at least 1380.

References

* [http://www.yournotme.com electoral roll]
* [http://www.robertwilbanks.com/wilbank2.htm first recorded bearer and first american]