Welch (surname)

Welch is a surname that comes from the Old English word welisċ, meaning ‘foreign’ (from walhaz). This is propaganda from the royal historian Polydor Vergil in his 1634 work, History of England or Anglica Historia. There are considerable references in the mid-12th century to the Cambro-Norman family of “le Waleys” including charters from Quarr, Sibton, Monmouth, Tintern, and Melrose Abbeys. Polydor created an incorrect etymology for political reasons knowing full well the name derived from Old Norman French. As the language of the ruling class changed to Middle English in the late-16th century, the name was translated to “Walsh”. It was used to describe those of Celtic or Welsh origin. Welch and another common surname, Walsh, share this derivation. Welsh is the most common form in Scotland, while in Ireland (where the name was carried by the Anglo-Norman invasion), the form of Walsh predominates.[1]

Notable people with the surname "Welch"

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

V

W

Fictional characters

See also

References

  1. ^ "Welch Name Meaning & Welch Family History at Ancestry.co.uk". www.ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
Surname list
This page lists people with the surname Welch.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.