Walsh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Walsh

What does the name Walsh mean?

The Walsh surname is derived from the Old English "welisc," meaning "foreigner."

Early Origins of the Walsh family

The surname Walsh was first found in Roxburghshire, where John Walshe was a juror on an inquest in 1360. A John Walch was listed as a tenant of the earl of Douglas, in the Barony of Kylbouho in 1376.

Early History of the Walsh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Walsh research. Another 25 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1548, 1567, 1570, 1606, 1622, 1662, 1698, 1701, 1702, 1705, 1707, 1708 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Walsh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Walsh Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Walsh, Welsh, Welch, Walch and others.

Early Notables of the Walsh family

Rev. Peter Walsh, who wrote "The Loyal Remonstrance."
William Walsh (1662-1708), was an English poet, critic and politician, Member of Parliament for Worcestershire (1698-1701), (1702-1705) and Richmond (1705-1707); as well as John Walsh, author and judg...

Walsh World Ranking

the United States, the name Walsh is the 325^th most popular surname with an estimated 82,071 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Walsh is ranked the 151^st most popular surname with an estimated 22,448 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Walsh is the 5^th popular surname with an estimated 1,408 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Walsh as 80^th with 30,382 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Walsh as 126^th with 3,624 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Walsh as 122^nd with 40,471 people. 6

Migration of the Walsh family to Ireland

Some of the Walsh family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Walsh migration to the United States +

Walsh Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jacob Walsh who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635
Thomas Walsh, who settled in Virginia in 1643
Elizabeth Walsh, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1679 8

Walsh Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Walsh, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 8
Joseph Walsh, who landed in Virginia in 1745 8
Dudley Walsh, who landed in New York in 1785 8
George Walsh, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1796 8

Walsh Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Walsh, who settled in Charles Town Massachusetts in 1803
Alexander Walsh, aged 29, who arrived in New York in 1812 8
Christopher T Walsh, aged 32, who arrived in New York in 1812 8
Henry Walsh, aged 33, who landed in New York in 1812 8
Margaret Walsh, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1812 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Walsh migration to Canada +

Walsh Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Bartholomew Walsh, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
John Walsh, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1756 9
Mr. Samuel Walsh U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 10

Walsh Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Martin Walsh, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1806
Richard Walsh, who settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1808
Robin Walsh, who settled in Quebec in 1825 with his wife and six children
Catherine Walsh, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1828
Honors Walsh, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1828
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Walsh migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet

Mr. Joseph Walsh, British settler convicted in Yorkshire, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entry, transported aboard the ship "Matilda" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 7

Third Fleet

Mr. William Walsh, (b. 1752), aged 35, Irish settler convicted in London on 15th September 1784, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 8

Following the Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Walsh Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Walsh, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. James Walsh, (b. 1777), aged 24, Irish convict who was convicted in Kilkenny, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. James Walsh, Irish convict who was convicted in Waterford, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Peter Walsh, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Robert Walsh, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Walsh migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Walsh Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Edward Walsh, aged 33, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Coromandel" in 1840
Mary Ann Walsh, aged 31, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Coromandel" in 1840
Eliza Walsh, aged 12, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Coromandel" in 1840
James Walsh, aged 10, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Coromandel" in 1840
Catherine Walsh, aged 4, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Coromandel" in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Walsh (post 1700) +

Gerald Thomas Walsh (1942-2025), American Catholic prelate, Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of New York from 2004 to 2017
Michael Patrick Walsh SJ (1912-1982), American Catholic priest, Jesuit, and biologist, he oversaw the construction of 15 new buildings, the creation of many new doctoral programs, and the overhaul of the undergraduate curriculum at Boston College
Gretchen Walsh (b. 2003), American competitive swimmer and the world record holder, two-time gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Michael Emmet Walsh (1935-2024), American character actor known for his roles in Critters (1986), Blade Runner (1982) and Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
John Edward Walsh (1958-2023), American political consultant and campaign manager
Don Walsh (1931-2023), American oceanographer, explorer and marine policy specialist
Christopher T. Walsh NAS IoM AAA&S AAM (1944-2023), American biochemist, Hamilton Kuhn professor of biological chemistry and pharmacology at Harvard Medical School
Martin Joseph "Marty" Walsh (b. 1967), American politician, 54th Mayor of Boston (2014-), United States Secretary of Labor Nominee
Chris Walsh (1951-2018), American architect and politician, Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (2010-2018)
... (Another 38 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Walsh family +

Halifax Explosion

Mr. John Walsh (1827-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 13
Master Thomas Walsh Jr. (1908-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
Mr. John Walsh (1856-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 14
Mr. Thomas Walsh (1861-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
Mr. Edward Walsh (1861-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
... (Another 40 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Walsh Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Auspice numine
Motto Translation: Under divine direction

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance