From an English surname which referred to the medieval occupational of a walker, also known as a fuller. Walkers would tread on wet, unprocessed wool in order to clean and thicken it. The word ultimately derives from Old English wealcan "to walk". Walker is an English name, derived from the Old English word "wealcan", which means "to roll". The name is a Medieval professional name for a person who trod on woolen cloth to thicken it and prepare it for using.
