Surname Walshe - Meaning and Origin

Walshe: What does the surname Walshe mean?

The surname Walshe is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Old Norman French word "waleis," which means "foreigner" or "stranger." The name was initially given to Celtic Britons by the Anglo-Saxon settlers to the British Isles during the 12th century, and originally represented a person from Wales or a Welsh speaker. But in Ireland, it was given to Welsh soldiers and settlers who came to the country following the Anglo-Norman invasion during the reign of Henry II of England. Over time, it became anglicized and variations, including Walsh, Walch, Welsh, Brannagh, and Breathnach, developed. It is one of the most common surnames in Ireland today, particularly in counties Mayo and Kilkenny. The Walshe family was historically known for their bravery and contributions to society, and several family members of note have emerged over the centuries.

Walshe: Where does the name Walshe come from?

The last name Walshe is most commonly found in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The surname is believed to have originated in counties Wexford and Kilkenny, in present-day southeastern Ireland. While the exact meaning of the name is uncertain, many believe it was derived from the Irish phrase "bhaliso," meaning Welshman.

Records show that the name Walshe has been mentioned in documents as far back as year 1259 AD. Today, plenty of records confirm that the name is still existing and popular in various parts of the world.

In Ireland, the name Walshe is found mostly in county Kilkenny, and the Wexford region. It's also a common name in the North East of Scotland, particularly in Caithness and Sutherland regions.

Since colonization, there has been a notable presence of the last name Walshe in Australia. According to statistics, Walshe is the 78th most common surname in the nation. A significant number of Walshe's have also moved to the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada since the 19th Century.

Though primarily concentrated in the Isles and Down Under, the last name Walshe has nonetheless spanned across the globe. Families with that surname can be found today in some parts of Asia, Europe, and even South America.

Variations of the surname Walshe

The surname Walshe is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Ó Breatnach, which originated in the 9th century in County Wicklow, Ireland. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Walshe include Walsh, Welsh, Welshman, Wallace, Wallis, and Walsham.

The surname Walsh could have either referred to a Welshman, an individual who had arrived from Wales to Ireland, or to one who had red hair, which in Gaelic is referred to as breathnach. Alternatively, the denied saga of the Brehan Law forbids interbreeding of aristocrats and none-aristocrats, therefore if a union between a Gaelic aristocrat and a Welshman occurred, the offspring could receive the surname Walsh.

Variant spellings of the surname Walsh include Wallish, Walshe, Walshin, Walsho, and Walssh. The anglicized form of the surname Walsh is sometimes spelled ‘Soole’, though this is more associated with the border counties of Leitrim and Cavan, indicating a different origin.

Surnames of the same origin to Walsh include: Coleman, Kilkenny, Moore, Reid, and Goldrick. The Coleman and Reid names are from Ulster, while Kilkenny is from Leinster and Moore is a surname that can be found throughout Ireland. Additionally, the surname Goldrick is more commonly found in counties Dublin and Mayo and is associated with the origin ‘Ó Garbhacháin’.

To conclude, the surname Walshe is a derivative of the Gaelic surname Ó Breatnach, originating in the 9th century in County Wicklow, Ireland. Variations of the surname Walshe include Walsh, Welsh, Welshman, Wallace, Wallis, Walsham, Wallish, Walshin, Walsho, Walssh, and Soole. Surnames of the same origin to Walsh include Coleman, Kilkenny, Moore, Reid, and Goldrick.

Famous people with the name Walshe

• Maureen O'Hara (born as Maureen FitzSimons; full name Maureen FitzSimons Walshe, known professionally as Maureen O'Hara)
• Dave Walshe, former Canadian ice hockey player
• Fíona Walshe, Irish actress
• Frank Walshe, English former professional association football goalkeeper
• Jack Walshe, British theatre director
• John Walshe, Irish military historian
• Lizzie Walshe, British theatre producer
• Maeve Walshe, Irish journalist
• Michael Walshe, Irish journalist and film director
• Niall Walshe, Irish writer and broadcaster
• River Walshe, French-Irish children's fantasy author
• Robert Walshe, Australian public servant
• Shane Walshe, Irish former footballer
• Tommy Walshe, former senior Australian public servant
• Tony Walshe, Australia's first professional actor of Irish descent
• Tyrone Walshe, former AFL footballer
• Winifred Walshe, Australian rules footballer

Other surnames

Walsh