Welch is a surname that comes from the Old English word , meaning ‘foreign’ (from walhaz). It was used to describe those of Celtic or Welsh origin. Welch and another common surname, Walsh, share this derivation. Welsh is the most common form in Scotland, while in Ireland (where the name was carried by the Anglo-Norman invasion), the form of Walsh predominates. Notable people with the surname "Welch" A Adam Cleghorn Welch (1864–1943), Scottish clergyman Adonijah Welch (1821–1889), American politician Ailsa A. Welch, English epidemiologist Alan Welch (1910–1980), Australian rules footballer Alexander Welch (1873–1962), Canadian politician Alexander McMillan Welch (1869–1943), American architect Alford Welch, American professor Amy Welch (born 1985), English journalist Andrew Welch (disambiguation), multiple people Ann Welch (1917–2002), English pilot Anthony Cleland Welch (born 1945), British military officer Aristides Welch (1811–1890), American racehorse breeder Art Welch (born 1944), Jamaican soccer player Ashbel Welch (1809–1882), American civil engineer Asher Welch (born 1944), Jamaican soccer player B Benjamin Welch (1818–1863), American politician Bernard Lewis Welch (1911–1989), British statistician Bettina Welch (1922–1993), New Zealand actress Bill Welch (1941–2009), American politician Bo Welch (born 1951), American film director Bob Welch (disambiguation), multiple people Bradley Welch (born 1989), Trinidadian-American soccer player Brian Welch (born 1970), American musician Brian Welch (ski jumper) (born 1984), American ski jumper Bruce Welch (born 1941), English musician Bryan Welch, American publisher Buster Welch (born 1928), American horse trainer C Carolyn Welch (1929–2020), American figure skater Charles H. Welch (1880–1967), English theologian Chris Welch (born 1941), English music critic Christian Welch (born 1994), Australian rugby league footballer Christopher Evan Welch (1965–2013), American actor Chuck Welch (born 1948), American artist Claude Welch (disambiguation), multiple people Claxton Welch (born 1947), American football player Coley Welch (1919–2000), American boxer Colin Welch (1924–1997), English journalist Craig Welch (1948–2020), Canadian animator Cris Welch, American football coach Cullum Welch (1895–1980), British businessman Curt Welch (1862–1896), American baseball player D Damien Welch (born 1982), Welsh rugby union footballer Daniel Welch (disambiguation), multiple people Danny Welch (disambiguation), multiple people Dave Welch, English poker player Dave Welch (admiral) (born 1961), American admiral David Welch (disambiguation), multiple people Denis Welch (1945–2014), British racing driver Denise Welch (born 1958), British actress Denton Welch (1915–1948), English writer Dick Welch (1913–2002), Australian rules footballer Don Welch (1932–2016), American poet Dwight S. Welch (1874–1962), American farmer and politician E Ed Welch (born 1947), English composer Edward Welch (disambiguation), multiple people Edwin Welch (1838–1916), English