Wales (English)
Where does "Wales" come from?
The name 'Wales' originates from the Proto-Germanic word *walhaz, a term used by ancient Germanic tribes to describe foreigners, specifically Celts and Romans. This term evolved into the Old English 'Wēalas', meaning 'Celt' or 'Welsh person,' and was ultimately narrowed over centuries to refer specifically to the native Brythonic inhabitants of what is now Wales.
Full etymology tree
- Wales (English), 'One of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom, formerly a principality.'
- inherited Wales (Middle English), 'Wales (a medieval principality and region of the Kingdom of England)'
- inherited Wēalas (Old English), 'the Welsh'
- derived wealh (Old English), 'Celt'
- inherited *walh (Proto-West Germanic), 'foreigner, non-Germanic person (a Celt, later also a Roman)'
- inherited *walhaz (Proto-Germanic), 'a foreigner, a non-Germanic, specifically'
- derived *wólkos (Reconstructed)
- derived Volcae (Latin), 'A Gallic tribal confederation of Gallia Narbonensis whose chief towns were Nemausus and Tolosa.'
- derived *wolkos (Proto-Celtic), 'hawk'
- inherited *wľ̥kʷos (Proto-Indo-European)
- derived *ulkʷos (Proto-Celtic)
- inherited *wľ̥kʷos (Proto-Indo-European)
- derived *wolkos (Proto-Celtic), 'hawk'
- derived Volcae (Latin), 'A Gallic tribal confederation of Gallia Narbonensis whose chief towns were Nemausus and Tolosa.'
- derived *wólkos (Reconstructed)
- inherited *walhaz (Proto-Germanic), 'a foreigner, a non-Germanic, specifically'
- inherited *walh (Proto-West Germanic), 'foreigner, non-Germanic person (a Celt, later also a Roman)'
- derived wealh (Old English), 'Celt'
- inherited Wēalas (Old English), 'the Welsh'
- inherited Wales (Middle English), 'Wales (a medieval principality and region of the Kingdom of England)'
Direct ancestors
Updated July 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris