Members of this family are native to the Americas, Eurasia, and Southeast Asia.

The Persian walnut, Juglans regia, is one of the major nut crops of the world.

Walnut, hickory, and gaulin are also valuable timber trees while pecan wood is also valued as cooking fuel.

Members of the walnut family have large, aromatic leaves that are usually alternate, but opposite in Alfaroa and Oreomunnea.

[4] The known living genera are grouped into subfamilies, tribes, and subtribes as follows:[5] Modern molecular phylogenetics suggest the following relationships:[7] Myricaceae (outgroup) Rhoiptelea Engelhardia Alfaroa Oreomunnea Carya Annamocarya Platycarya Cyclocarya Pterocarya Juglans