This surname has been thought by some to show that the original bearer or bearers of the name came from Wales. The earliest of the name in Scotland are said to have been followers of the Stewarts who came from Shropshire where they had large possessions, but a little way from the Welsh border. It was therefore quite naturally thought that some Welshmen might have been among the vassals of the Stewarts when they came into Scotland. On the other hand it has been claimed that Sir William Wallace was not a Welshman, as we understand the term at the present day, but was a descendant of a native of the British kingdom of Strathclyde. Walensis meant a Briton of Strathclyde as we see from charters of the twelfth century to the people of the Glasgow diocese (extending from Clyde to Solway) headed: Francis et Anglicis, Scotis et Galwiensibus et Walensibus, "to French and English, Scots (coast of Ayrshire, etc.), Galloway men and Britons (of Strathclyde)." Wallace is therefore most probably a native name meaning a Strathclyde Briton. The surname appears in the twelfth century in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, parts of the old Strathclyde kingdom as already mentioned. Richard Wal who attested a charter by Walter, son of Alan, between 1165-73 (RMP., p. 6) appears to be first of the name recorded. As Richard Walency he (c. 1190) witnessed a charter by Richard de Lincoln of a portion of land in the territory of Molle to the church of S. Mary of Kelso (Kelso, 161), and as Ric. Waleis he witnessed a charter by Richard de Nichole of an acre of land in the territory of Molle (ibid., 165). Adam Walleis witnessed a charter of "vnum rete super matricem aquam de Thei" by David de Hava to the monks of Cupar between 1212—49 (SCM., II, p. 307), and as Ada Walensis witnessed gifts to the church of Paisley before 1228 (RMP., p. 225). Ricardus Waleyss, knight, and Robertus Waleyss witnessed the gift of Cragyn (Craigie) in Kyle to the monastery of Paisley, c. 1272 (RMP., p. 233). Johannes Walensi witnessed a charter by Gilbert of Glencarny to Duncan of Feryndrawcht, c. 1281-98 (Grant, III, p. 7). Sir William Wallace the patriot, the "Terror Anglorum" as the author or Liber Pluscardensis calls him, was taken prisoner, and sent to London where he was tried and unjustly executed as a traitor in August, 1305. He was no traitor to the English king as he had never sworn fealty to him. Robert Wallays, miles, witnessed a grant to Donald, earl of Lennox, c. 1334 (Levenax, p. 61), and again witness in 1336 (Friars Ayr, p. 6). John Walays had a charter of the land of Tahurrystona in the barony of Innerwyk, 1372 (RMS., I, 420). Sir John Wales, lord of Craigie, had a safe conduct into England in 1444 (Bain, IV, 1163). The lands of Elyrislie (Elderslie) were held by Wallaces as late as 1466 (RMP., p. 370). Valace 1589, Vallace 1560, Valias and Valles (of Craigie) 1497, Walace 1432, Walais 1292, Walas 1403, Walays 1369, Wallas 1497, Wallass 1531, Wailes 1487, Wallis 1518; Vallace, Valleyis, Valeyns, Waless, Waleys, Wallaise, Wallayis, Walleyis, Wallyis, Walois.

= Wallis, q.v.

Williame Wallace, wicht [active, strong] and wyse.—Ring of the Roy Robert, 139.

In Henry the Minstrel’s (Blind Harry’s) ‘Actis and Deidis of the Illustere and Vailyeand Campioun Schir William Wallace ’ (15th cent.) the spelling Wallas (‘wicht Wallas’) occasionally occurs.

Though resembling, very closely, the Walleys and Wallis of English family nomenclature, this surname may have a distinct origin. It appears to have been anciently a personal name. Galgacus, the celebrated Caledonian chief, who opposed the arms of Agricola, has been identified by Baxter with Gwallog, a British name, and this has been suggested as the original form of the modern Wallace. See Gentleman's Mag. March, 1856, p. 218.

The family are descended from Eimurus Galleius, whose son Richard Walense was living in the time of Walter the first Steward, and was father of Henry Waleys, whose son was Adam Wallace of Riccarton, 1158.

The same as Wales or Welch, and formed thus—Gaulish, Wallish, Wallis, and also Welsh or Welch, a name given to the Britons by their Danish and Angles invaders, because they originally came from Gaul.

Wallace is a name common in the south of Scotland.

Wallace is a Scottish name established in the Lowlands, which has found its way into the north of England, but it must not be confused, when we are considering the migration of names, with the English Wallis found over the greater part of England, and established even in the extreme south - east and in the extreme south west counties. It must, however, be noticed that though the Scotch Wallace and the English Wallis are distinct geographical variations, they are both of them forms of an ancient name in England. Le Waleis and Le Waleys were common names in the 13th century in the south and east of England, occurring especially in Wilts, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and Norfolk, in the first two of which Wallis is now a characteristic name. We also learn from the Hundred Rolls that De Walles was a Shropshire name in the 13th century. The original name was applied to a native of Wales.