Who can see your post?
Your post will show up in News Feed, on your profile and in search results.263,911 Global WALSH Family Members
Days | Hours | Minutes | Seconds |
Sunday 3rd November
2pm (New York), 7pm (Ire)
Days | Hours | Minutes | Seconds |
Sunday 3rd November
2pm (New York), 7pm (Ire)
Our in-person family gatherings
Our TEDx talk about family gatherings
WALSH Family History
Breathnach - anglicised Walsh(e) and Welsh.This surname shows what a Welsh affair the Cambro-Norman incursions from 1169 were. The message is in the Gaelic form of the name Breathnach or - Welshman. These were the ancient inhabitants of Britain, and the Anglo-Saxons called them Welsh or - waleis/ foreigners! So the Walsh(e) surname is a microcosm of history. It is likely though that the Irish natives applied this epithet to any invader whether true Welsh or Norman, or a mixture of both, as many of them were, like the Geraldines.
A list of counties of settlement, spreading from Wexford and Wicklow to Waterford, Kilkenny and South Tipperary, on to Cork and Kerry and even further to Mayo, reads like a flow chart of the invasion. Research on the patterns of settlement of Walsh families in the early territories would provide a window into the whole Cambro-Norman colonisation.
In Sir William Petty's 'Census' of 1659, to take a random example 'Welsh' is listed as a Principal Irish Name in Islands Barony and Tulla Barony Co Clare with 10 and 5 families respectively.
By the mid 19th century Griffith's 'Primary Valuation' of households, Walsh was most common in Cos Kilkenny (1420), Cork (1357), Mayo (1092), Waterford (835) and Tipperary (637). Totals were: Walsh (9843), Walshe (6) and Welsh (26).
In the Registrar General's 'Special Report on Surnames...' (1894), based on the birth registration figures for 1890, most Walsh(e) numbers were found in counties Cork, Mayo, Waterford, Galway, Dublin and Wexford. It was the most common name in Mayo. The totals were 877 Walsh and 55 Walshe. The variant Welsh was found largely in Co Antrim.
Based on the 1890 records above, Walsh was the fourth most common name in Ireland (after Murphy, Kelly and Sullivan). In the US it occupies 325th place.
Two famous Walshes:
Tommy Walsh (b 1983) hurling player for the brilliant Kilkenny team. Holder of 6 All Ireland Medals, Walsh is regarded as one of the greatest players ever!
Tommy Walsh is a Gaelic footballer, who played in the Wicklow side that won the Tommy Murphy Cup in 2007. In 2010 he returned to play for his native Carlow
Select Audience
-
Public
Anyone on or off Wales101 -
Friends
Your friends on Wales101 -
Specific
Only show to some friends -
Only me
Only you can see your post
Tag People
-
Kane William
-
John Micky
-
John william
-
John Smith
-
John
Create Life Event
Robin Walshe
ilv2so62aol.com
Bern
Reuben Innes
D W
Ruby
Hi, I am a Walsh. My grandfathers name is John William Walsh. Originally from Rockmount, Drimoleague County Cork. John Walshs fathers name was Martin Walsh, from near rossmuck, County Galway, his wife's names was Norah Forde. Martin went to London in the early 40's and worked as a labourer. My grandfather John Walsh, also married a Nora Walsh, originally from Dublin.
The story is very familiar in a lot of ways, just thought it was fascinating.
Stephen Meek
Brett walsh
Brian Walsh
Thomas Francis Walsh
Deb Johnson
Anthony Barrett
Anthony Barrett
Anthony Barrett
Anthony Barrett
Anthony Barrett
Dubhglas
Areas of Origin for WALSH
Invite more WALSH family members!
Write an email address and click 'Invite' to share this page with more members of the WALSH tribe.
Log in or Register to invite others
Family Coat of Arms Generator
Why not see what your family crest could look like based on your own family characteristics?
Create CrestJoin the Irish Learning Rooms
Show off the WALSH Family Crestโฆ
Wear your crest with pride...plenty of products to choose from