Welsh Name Meaning, Origin and Heraldry

Many Welsh families will find their roots under Walsh, the form most records use. Its meaning, shared with Walsh, is “The Welshman”.

• Welsh writes “e” in place of the “a” found in Walsh, a typical scribal difference.
• Spellings drifted because names were written down by ear in parish books, tax rolls and passenger lists.
• Other spellings include Walshe and Breathnach.

Heraldry and the Welsh name

Heraldry is personal: arms associated with the Walsh surname were borne by specific families, and sharing the name does not mean sharing the blazon. Want more than a summary? See the Welsh family name pack.