A surname of Scottish origin, also referring to various notable people with this name, including Alfred Russel Wallace (co-discoverer of evolution) and William Wallace (Scottish independence leader).
From Anglo-Norman 'waleis' meaning 'foreigner' or 'Welshman', originally used by Norman and English speakers to describe Celtic peoples. The name became established as a surname in medieval Scotland and spread throughout English-speaking countries.
Ironically, the surname Wallace, meaning 'foreigner', became famous through William Wallace, the ultimate Scottish patriot fighting against foreign rule - a perfect example of how names can carry unexpected historical contradictions!
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