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Origins of the Walsh surname

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What does the name Walsh mean?

The origin of the Walsh surname is English. It's a descriptive surname that derives from the Old English word 'welisc' (Foreigner or Welshman), and would have been given to those who had crossed borders to settle in England with their descendants. Perhaps unsurprisingly this name is relatively uncommon in Wales itself, but more often is seen in England.

Alternative variations of the name Walsh

Walsh, Walch, Walshe, Wallsh, Wolsh

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Where do most Walshs live?

In 1921, most Walshs lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Walshs

How common is your surname?

185th most common surname in the UK

We have 161,000 records for the Walsh surname. The oldest one dates back to .

Who were Walshs most likely to marry?

Murphys

&

Smiths

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Walshs.

What are the most common Walsh first names?

  • John
  • James
  • Mary
  • Margaret

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Walsh family members

Common jobs for Walshs

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Walshs in 1921
Cotton Weaver

1,976

Cotton Winder

487

Dressmaker

481

Weaver

431

Weaver Cotton

382

Common Male occupations for Walshs in 1921
General Labourer

995

Cotton Weaver

935

Coal Miner

686

Dock Labourer

429

Tailor

414

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We found over 230,000 family trees with the Walsh surname

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