German
FrenchClan Wallace
The Wallace family first came to Scotland with a Norman family in the 11th century. David I
of Scotland was eager to extend the benefits of Norman influence and gave grants to the nobles of the south. Among them was Walter fitz Alan, who the Scottish king appointed
his Steward in 1136. One of Fitzallan's followers was Richard Wallace from Oswestry who came north to try and improve his fortunes. Oswestry is on the Welsh border so it is
possible that the name Wallace may be a corruption of Le Waleis meaning the "Welshman". However while it is possible that the Wallaces were originally Britons from Wales, who
came north with David I of Scotland in the eleventh century, another theory is that they were Britons who had settled in Strathclyde in the tenth century.
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