Wallace (surname)
Wallace is a Scottish surname stemmed from the Anglo-Norman French Waleis "Welshman". It is a northern variant form of Gualeis "Welshman" ; adjectiv gualeis "Welsh" ; same as walois "the oil language".
It originates from Old Low Franconian *Walhisk meaning "foreigner", "Celt", "Roman" which is a cognate of Old English wylisċ meaning "foreigner" or "Welshman". The original surname may have denoted someone from the former Kingdom of Strathclyde who spoke Cumbric, a close relative of the Welsh language, or possibly an incomer from Wales, or the Welsh Marches. The Kingdom of Strathclyde was originally a part of the Hen Ogledd, its people speaking a Brittonic language distinct from Scottish Gaelic and the Scots language derived from Lothian.
Variations of the name include Welsh, Walla, Wallais, Wallice, Wallang, Wallass, Wallayis, Wallays, Walleis, Wallensis, Walles, Valance, Valensis, Valeyns, Vallace, Vallance, and Valles.
Notable people
Academia
- Alexander Doniphan Wallace American mathematician
- Alfred Russel Wallace, British naturalist and biologist
- Andrew H. Wallace, Scottish-American mathematician
- Bruce Wallace (geneticist)
- Carden Wallace, Australian marine biologist
- Carolynn Reid-Wallace, American academic administrator
- Catherine C. "Cath" Wallace, New Zealand environmentalist and academic
- Chris Wallace (computer scientist), Australian computer scientist and physicist, developer of Minimum Message Length
- David R. Wallace, American software engineer and inventor
- David Rains Wallace, author on conservation and natural history
- David Wallace (physicist), British physicist and Master of Churchill College, Cambridge
- David Wallace (medievalist), British scholar of medieval literature
- Dorothy Wallace, American mathematician
- Douglas C. Wallace, American geneticist and evolutionary biologist
- Frank R. Wallace, author and philosopher
- Ian Wallace (ornithologist), British ornithologist and natural history author
- John Higgins Wallace Jr., American chemist
- John L. Wallace, Canadian medical scientist
- J. M. Wallace-Hadrill, British academic and historian
- John Michael Wallace, American atmospheric scientist
- Mike Wallace (historian), American historian
- Perry Wallace, American law professor and first African American athlete to play a complete college career in the Southeastern Conference
- Raymond L. Wallace, American Bigfoot researcher
- Richard Wallace (scientist), artificial intelligence researcher
- Robert Charles Wallace, Scottish-born Canadian geologist, educator, and administrator
- William Wallace (philosopher), Scottish philosopher
- William Wallace (mathematician), Scottish mathematician
- William Wallace, Baron Wallace of Saltaire, British academic, writer and politician
- William A. Wallace (organizational theorist), Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- William E. Wallace, physical chemist
Armed forces
- Christopher Wallace (British Army officer), retired British Army general and trustee of the Imperial War Museum
- Colin Wallace, British soldier and psychological warfare operative
- George W. Wallace, American soldier
- Hazel Wallace, Canadian World War I flying ace
- Herman C. Wallace, American soldier
- Jacob Wallace, American pro-Mexican guerrilla leader
- James Wallace (Royal Navy officer), Royal Navy officer
- Lew Wallace, American Civil War general and author
- Martin Wallace (soldier), Australian SASR soldier
- Martin R. M. Wallace, American Union brevet brigadier general
- Robert Wallace (British Army officer), Irish lawyer, soldier and politician
- Samuel Thomas Dickson Wallace, Scottish soldier
- W. H. L. Wallace, Union general in the American Civil War
- William Wallace, Scottish landowner, one of the main leaders during the wars of Scottish Independence
- William Henry Wallace, Confederate general and South Carolina state legislator
- William Miller Wallace, U.S. Army general
Law
- John Wallace (New Zealand judge), chairman of the Royal Commission on the Electoral System, 1986
- John Clifford Wallace, United States federal judge
- John E. Wallace Jr., former New Jersey Supreme Court justice
- John William Wallace, American lawyer
- Michael Wallace (lawyer), American lawyer
- William James Wallace, lawyer and federal judge in the United States
- William Robert Wallace, American judge
- William T. Wallace, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California and an Attorney General of California
Media (actors, artists, writers, journalists)
- Amy Wallace, American writer
- Andree Wallace, American actress
- André Wallace, English sculptor
- Andy Wallace (producer), American music studio engineer
- Anne Wallace, Australian painter
- Barbara Brooks Wallace, American children's writer
- Benjamin Wallace (writer), American author and magazine writer
- Beryl Wallace, American singer, dancer, and actress
- Bill Wallace (author), American author
- Bronwen Wallace, Canadian poet and short story writer
- Chris Wallace, American newscaster at ABC, NBC, and Fox News
- Chris Wallace-Crabbe, Australian poet
- Christine Wallace, Australian journalist and author
- Claire Wallace (broadcaster), Canadian journalist and broadcaster
- Daniel Wallace (author), American author
- Danny Wallace (humourist), British comedian, author and presenter
- David Wallace (American actor), American actor
- David Foster Wallace, American novelist
- Dee Wallace, American actress
- DeWitt Wallace, American co-founder of Reader's Digest magazine
- Donald Mackenzie Wallace, British public servant, journalist and author
- Dougie Wallace, Scots photographer
- Ed Wallace, American radio personality
- Edgar Wallace, British crime writer
- George Wallace (American comedian), American comedian
- Ginger Wallace, American artist
- Gregg Wallace English broadcaster
- Ian Wallace (author), American science fiction author
- Ian Wallace (artist), pioneer of Vancouver's conceptual art movement
- Ian Wallace (illustrator), Canadian illustrator of children's books
- Ian Wallace (photographer), Tasmanian landscape photographer
- Irving Wallace, American author and screenwriter
- Jean Wallace, American actress
- Jessie Wallace, English actress
- John Graham Wallace, English author of children's books
- Kathleen Kemarre Wallace, Australian Aboriginal artist
- Kathryn Ann Wallace, American television and film journalist
- Kevin Wallace (theatre producer), Irish theatrical producer
- Lila Bell Wallace, American co-founder of Reader's Digest magazine
- Louise Wallace, New Zealand television presenter, actress and director
- Louise Wallace (writer), New Zealand poet
- Marcia Wallace, American actress
- Marjorie Wallace, American model, actress and presenter
- Mike Wallace, American television correspondent
- Morgan Wallace, American actor
- Naomi Wallace, American playwright, screenwriter and poet
- Nick Wallace, British author
- Nicolle Wallace, American television host, author, and former political figure
- Pierce Wallace, American sports fan and television personality
- Randall Wallace, American writer and film director
- Richard Wallace (director), American film director
- Richard Wallace (journalist), British newspaper editor
- Rowena Wallace, English-born Australian actress
- Tommy Lee Wallace, American film producer, director and screenwriter
- William O. Wallace, American Hollywood set decorator
- William Ross Wallace, American poet
Musicians
- Aria Wallace, American actress and singer
- Beryl Wallace, American singer, dancer and actress
- Bill Wallace (musician), Canadian rock-and-roll musician
- Chris Wallace (musician), lead vocalist for The White Tie Affair
- Christopher George Latore Wallace, American rap artist The Notorious B.I.G.
- Emmett "Babe" Wallace, American composer, singer, actor
- Frank Wallace (piper), Irish musician
- Ian Wallace (drummer), drummer with King Crimson, Bob Dylan, and many others
- Ian Wallace (singer), singer and contestant on My Music
- Jerry Wallace, American country and pop singer
- John Wallace (musician), American bassist and singer
- John Wallace (trumpeter), Scottish trumpeter
- John Bruce Wallace, American musician and artist
- Michael Wallace (piper), Irish musician
- Simon Wallace, British composer and pianist
- Sippie Wallace, American singer-songwriter
- Stewart Wallace, American composer
- Terry Wallace Jr., American rapper Tee Grizzley
- Wesley Wallace dates unknown), American blues and boogie-woogie pianist
- William Wallace (Scottish composer), Scottish composer
- William Vincent Wallace, Irish composer
Politics and business
- Ben Wallace (politician), British Conservative politician
- Bob Wallace (computer scientist), American software developer & programmer
- Carleton Lyman Wallace, American lawyer and Minnesota state legislator
- Dan Wallace (politician), Irish Fianna Fáil politician
- David Wallace (Indiana politician), 6th Governor of Indiana
- David G. Wallace, American businessman and politician, mayor of Sugar Land, Texas
- David Wardrope Wallace, Canadian MP for Russell, 1903–1904
- Elizabeth Virginia Wallace, birth name of Bess Truman, wife of U.S. President Harry S. Truman
- Euan Wallace, British Conservative politician
- G. Frank Wallace, New York state senator
- Georg Wallace, Norwegian politician.
- George Wallace, 45th Governor of Alabama
- George Wallace Jr., American politician
- Henry A. Wallace, 33rd Vice President of the United States
- Henry Cantwell Wallace, American farmer, journalist and political activist
- I. T. A. Wallace-Johnson, Sierra Leonean journalist, activist and politician
- Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness, British politician and Deputy First Minister of Scotland
- John Wallace (Australian politician), Australian politician
- John Wallace (Canadian politician), New Brunswick farmer and member of the Canadian House of Commons
- John Wallace (English politician), English politician
- John Wallace (Florida politician), Florida Republican politician
- John Wallace (Scottish politician), Member of Parliament for Dumfermline Burghs
- John Alexander Wallace, Canadian politician
- John D. Wallace, Canadian politician
- John Winfield Wallace, US Congressman from Pennsylvania
- Jonathan H. Wallace, United States Congressman
- Lurleen Wallace, 46th Governor of Alabama
- Marjorie Wallace (SANE), British writer, broadcaster, investigative journalist, charity executive
- Mark Wallace, American businessman, former diplomat, and lawyer
- Martin Kelso Wallace, Irish Lord Mayor of Belfast
- Mary Wallace, Irish Fianna Fáil politician
- Maynard Wallace, American politician
- Michael Wallace (politician), Scottish-born merchant, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia
- Mick Wallace, Irish politician, football manager and property developer
- Mike Wallace (politician), Canadian politician
- Peggy Wallace, American politician
- Robert Wallace (Canadian politician), Canadian Member of Parliament
- Robert Wallace (Edinburgh MP), British Member of Parliament for Edinburgh East, 1886–1899
- Robert Wallace (MP for Greenock), Scottish politician, MP for Greenock, 1832–1845
- Robert Wallace (MP for Perth), Irish-born politician, MP for Perth, 1895–1907
- Robert B. Wallace, American politician
- Robert M. Wallace, United States Representative from Arkansas
- William Wallace (Canadian politician), Scottish-born merchant and politician in Ontario
- William A. Wallace, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
- William C. Wallace, U.S. Representative from New York
- William H. Wallace, first territorial governor and Congressional delegate from Idaho Territory
- William J. Wallace (Indianapolis mayor), 7th Mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana
Religion
- Brian Wallace, American Anglican suffragan bishop
- Duncan Wallace, Canadian Anglican Bishop of Qu'Appelle
- Foy E. Wallace, American Churches of Christ minister
- John Wallace (bishop), Scottish Roman Catholic prelate
- Martin Wallace (bishop), English Anglican Bishop of Selby
- Robert Wallace (minister), minister of the Church of Scotland and writer on population
- Robert Wallace (Unitarian), English Unitarian minister
- William Wallace (Jesuit), Irish Jesuit and Indologist
Sport
- A. J. Wallace (American football), American football player
- Alexander Wallace (footballer), English footballer
- Andy Wallace (racing driver), British race car driver
- Ben Wallace (basketball), American basketball player
- Bill Wallace (American football), American football player
- Bill Wallace (martial artist), American karateka and kickboxer
- Billy Wallace, New Zealand rugby union player
- B. J. Wallace, former American Minor League Baseball pitcher
- Bo Wallace, American football player
- Bob Wallace (American football), former American football player
- Bob Wallace (footballer born 1948), English footballer
- Bob Wallace (footballer born 1893), Scottish footballer for Nottingham Forest
- Bob Wallace (test driver), New Zealand racing driver, auto engineer, developer of Lamborghini
- Bobby Wallace (American football), American college football coach
- Bobby Wallace (baseball), American baseball player
- Caedan Wallace, American football player
- Chris Wallace (American football), American football quarterback
- Chris Wallace (basketball), American basketball executive, scout, and manager
- Chrissy Wallace, American race car driver
- Darrell Wallace Jr., American stock car driver
- Dave Wallace (baseball), American baseball coach and player
- David Wallace (catcher), American professional baseball player
- David Wallace (footballer), New Zealand international soccer player
- David Wallace (rugby union), Irish rugby union player
- Derek Wallace, American baseball player
- Doc Wallace, American baseball player
- Don Wallace, American baseball player
- Frank Wallace (soccer), American soccer player, nicknamed "Pee Wee"
- Gerald Wallace, American basketball player
- Harold Wallace, Costa Rican soccer player
- Harrison Wallace III, American football player
- Heather Wallace, Canadian squash player
- Huck Wallace, American baseball player
- Ian Wallace (footballer), Scottish international footballer
- Isabelle Wallace, Australian tennis player
- Jack Wallace (American football), American football player and coach
- Jack Wallace (catcher), American baseball player
- Jackie Wallace, American football player
- Jarrod Wallace, Australian Rugby League player
- Jilly Wallace, British freestyle skier and mother of Lloyd
- Jock Wallace Jr., Scottish football player and manager
- John Wallace (American football coach), college football coach, head football coach at Rutgers University
- John Wallace (basketball), American basketball player
- John Wallace (cricketer), South African-born first-class cricketer, who played for Rhodesia
- John Wallace (rower), Canadian rower
- John Wallace (sailor), American sailor
- Jonathan Wallace, American basketball player
- Joe Wallace (footballer), Scottish footballer
- Keith Wallace (boxer), English professional and Olympic boxer
- Ken Wallace (canoeist), Australian sprint canoer
- Ken Wallace (cricketer), English cricketer
- Kenny Wallace, American stock car driver, former TV commentator
- Kristy Wallace, Australian basketball player
- K'Von Wallace, American football player
- Lee Wallace, Scottish football player
- Levi Wallace, American football player
- Lloyd Wallace, British freestyle skier and son of Jilly
- Mark Wallace (cricketer), Welsh cricketer
- Matt Wallace (golfer), English golfer
- Matt Wallace (racing driver), American race car driver
- Merv Wallace, New Zealand cricketer
- Mike Wallace (American football), American football wide receiver
- Mike Wallace (baseball), American baseball player
- Mike Wallace (racing driver), American race car driver
- Nancy Wallace, American curler
- Peter Wallace (rugby league), Australian Rugby League player
- Philo Wallace, Barbadian cricketer
- Raphael Wallace, Nevisian cricketer
- Rasheed Wallace, American basketball player
- Robin Wallace, British freestyle skier
- Rod Wallace, English football player
- Ross Wallace, Scottish football player
- Rusty Wallace, American NASCAR driver
- Seneca Wallace, American football player
- Skylar Wallace, American softball player
- Steve Wallace (American football), American football player
- Steve Wallace (NASCAR), American race car driver
- Terry Wallace, Australian football player and coach
- Trevin Wallace, American college football player
- Tylan Wallace, American football player
- William Wallace (rower), Canadian Olympic rower
- William Middleton Wallace, Scotland rugby player
- Willie Wallace, Scottish footballer
Fiction
- Barret Wallace, fictional character in Final Fantasy VII
- Beth Wallace, fictional character in the soap opera Passions
- Chris Wallace (EastEnders), an EastEnders character
- Dante Wallace (The Office), CEO of Dunder Mifflin on the US TV series The Office
- Eli Wallace, fictional character on the TV science fiction drama series Stargate Universe
- Marsellus Wallace, fictional gangster portrayed by Ving Rhames in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction
- Nathan Wallace, fictional character in Repo! The Genetic Opera
- Nicole Wallace (Law & Order: Criminal Intent), fictional character on the TV drama series Law & Order: Criminal Intent
- Shilo Wallace, fictional character in Repo! The Genetic Opera
- Wallace Wallace, fictional character in No More Dead Dogs who was always on detention.
Other
- Benjamin Wallace (circus owner), American circus owner
- David A. Wallace, American urban planner, architect, and educator
- Felicity Wallace, New Zealand architect
- Frank Wallace (gangster), Irish-American gangster from South Boston
- Hamish Wallace, paediatric oncologist
- Hugh Wallace (architect), Irish architect and television presenter
- John Findley Wallace, American engineer, worked on the Panama Canal
- John-Paul Wallace, English chess player
- Joseph Wallace, American murder victim
- Keith Wallace (wine writer), wine columnist, journalist and wine school founder
- Martin Wallace (game designer), English game designer
- Michele Wallace, African American feminist and author
- Minik Wallace, Greenland-born Inuk brought to America for study
- Nancy Wallace (environmentalist), American environmentalist
- Nancy G. Wallace, Wyoming politician
- Peter Wallace (buccaneer), Anglo-Scottish buccaneer in the Bay of Honduras
- Sir Richard Wallace, 1st Baronet, English art collector
- Richetta Randolph Wallace, American administrator and campaigner
- Sanford Wallace, American spammer and DJ, self-proclaimed "Spam King"
- Staker Wallace, United Irishman who rebelled against the British
- William Wallace (mason), Scottish master mason and architect
- William A. A. Wallace, American Texas Ranger captain with the nickname "Bigfoot"
- William Herbert Wallace, English convicted 'murderer', later found to be innocent on appeal
- William Kelly Wallace, Irish railway engineer
- William Roy Wallace (architect), American architect
- William Wallace Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln