Surname Welsh - Meaning and Origin

Tracing My Roots: The Unexpected Journey from Welsh to Eastern Europe through iGENEA

The results from my iGENEA DNA test transcended all my expectations, providing a comprehensive view into my family line and presenting new light on the significance of my surname, "Welsh". Instead of steering me towards Wales as its etymology might suggest, my heritage turns out to be rooted in the Balto-Slavic area of Eastern Europe, bringing with it an intriguing blend of history, culture, and identity.

B. Welsh

Welsh: What does the surname Welsh mean?

The last name Welsh is of Anglo-Saxon origin and it is an ethnic name for someone from Wales or a speaker of the Welsh language. The term Welsh itself is derived from the Old English, "wælisc" or Old German "walhisc", meaning foreigner or stranger. This name was often given to Celtic-speaking Britons and later came to primarily represent individuals from Wales. A variety of spelling variations for the surname Welsh can be found historically, including Walsh, Welch, and Walshe, often depending on the regional phonetics and pronunciation. The surname was adopted into use as a familial indicator around the 13th century during the era when surnames began to be utilized in Britain. Additionally, there are different branches of the Welsh family that have adopted different spellings of the name throughout history. In the present day, this surname can be found in significant numbers in England, Ireland, Wales, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Lastly, the name Welsh is also noted in history due to several significant individuals and families who carried it.

Welsh: Where does the name Welsh come from?

The last name Welsh has a long history and is particularly common in a few countries all over the world. In the United Kingdom, it is most associated with Wales where it is said to have come from the ancient Celtic tribes who settled the area prior to the Roman invasion. In particular, it may have derived from the personal name Welch or Wallish which is thought to be derived from the Old English words "waelisc" and "wealh" meaning "foreigner".

In the United States, the last name Welsh is relatively common especially in the states of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York. This is largely due to the large number of immigrants from the United Kingdom in the early 19th century. Other areas of the United States with high concentrations of this name include North Dakota, California, and Texas.

In Canada, the last name Welsh is also relatively common, especially in the province of Nova Scotia. This is mainly due to loyalist immigrants from the United States in the late 18th century, many of whom were of British and Irish origin. The province of Ontario is also home to many members of this surname.

Finally, the name Welsh is also found in other parts of the world such as South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. These countries have a large number of British and Irish immigrants who have since made them home, sometimes even several generations ago. In addition, Australia and New Zealand also have strong links to Wales with many Australians tracing their ancestry back to the Wales.

Variations of the surname Welsh

The surname Welsh has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common of these are Welch, Walsh, Welsch, Welshman, Walch and Walcher.

Welsh is derived from the Old English 'waelsce' meaning "foreigner", and the Welsh as a group form one of the oldest native ethnic groups in Britain. Welsh was originally used to indicate where an individual originated from; thus, the first records of Welsh as a surname can be found in documents such as the Lancashire Assize Rolls from 1246 and the Cheshire Assize Rolls in 1285.

The variants of the surname Welsh can be traced back to different languages and regions. The Welsh variant is derived from Welsh Celtic, while Walsh is understood to be derived from Old Gaelic or Irish Gaelic and Welsch from Defheun or Middle German, with the variants Walch and Walcher known to have originated in Austria or Germany.

The surname Welsh has been recorded in Britain since at least the 13th century and is still relatively widespread in Britain today, with more than 9,000 people in Scotland, over 11,000 people in England and more than 9,000 people in Wales recorded as having the surname in the UK Census of 2011.

In the United States, Welsh is also a relatively common surname, with more than 35,000 people recorded having the surname in the country in the year 2000 census. The variants Welch and Walsh on the other hand are the most common in this country, with more than 510,000 people registered with either of these surnames in the country in the year 2000 census.

Famous people with the name Welsh

• Ryan Welsh: American Professional soccer player.
• Cadence Wilde: Canadian Actress who starred in the series Everything Sucks!.
• Piri Welsh: Professional surfer from Australia.
• Don Welsh: Former President and CEO of Destination Marketing Association International.
• Kai Welsh: Singer-songwriter from Ireland.
• Raymond Welsh: Film director from the United States.
• Siobhan Welsh: Actress and comedian from the United Kingdom.
• Gavin Welsh: Professional ice hockey player from Canada.
• Taron Egerton: British actor who has starred in films such as Kingsman: The Secret Service and Eddie The Eagle.
• Bart Welsh: Actor who starred in the crime drama Thief of Hearts alongside Steve Guttenberg.
• Susan Welsh: British producer and director best known for her work on the BBC sitcom Mrs. Brown's Boys.
• John Owsley Welsh: Former American football player who played in the NFL.
• Adam Welsh: Lead singer of the Irish rock band Saron Gas.
• David Welsh: American comic book artist who has worked on books such Batman and Legends of the Dark Knight.
• Michael Welsh: Former professional basketball player who spent three seasons in the NBA.
• Natalie Welsh: Television presenter from New Zealand, best known for her hosting roles on Good Morning and The Café.
• Patrick Welsh: Irish actor and model best known for his roles in Love/Hate and Perrier's Bounty.
• Taylor Welsh: Production manager and assistant director for television shows such as Preacher and Greys Anatomy.
• Kaetlyn Welsh: Professional figure skater from Canada who has competed in the World Championships.
• Dave Welsh: Lead guitarist for the alternative rock band Social Distortion.

Other surnames

WelschWelschbachWelschbilligWelscherWelschingerWelschmidWelsings