2007-03-04 04:22:28 · 7 answers · asked by Jeff H 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Genealogy
It could be Irish, but it would only be a reasonable idea if someone had played with the spelling through the years (like Sen John Kerry who is actually of Czechoslovakian Jewish background and his grandfather picked the name Kerry to sound more like his neighbors in Boston.)
Everyone forgets that names don't come from places, people do. People carry their names with them wherever they go. People also change their names when circumstances warrant. I can't say that the spelling Wahl is Irish, but I do believe there can be people with the name Wahl who are Irish. The question is then "how did they get that name?"
Maybe it was originally spelled Wall (which could well be Irish) and someone changed one letter because of issues with not getting mail on their route because of confusion with other families of the same name. Happened often in the last 120 years.
Another possibility is that someone name Wahl who was German left that country 300 years ago and resettled in Ireland, but kept their German spelling for a few generations. Then their descendents brought it to another country. They were Irish and rightly told others that they were Irish. Maybe their name has German roots, but at that point it's an Irish name because it belongs to an Irishman.
The only way to know where your "name came from" is to find the people who brought it here using good research to find out from whence they came...and from whence their ancestors came...
2007-03-04 07:13:57 · answer #1 · answered by GenevievesMom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey Jeff,
Swyrich.com says it is German and Swedish.
German:
Spelling variations of this family name include: Wahle, Wahlen, Wahler, Wahls, Wahlers, Waler and many more.
First found in Oldenburg, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the prominent families of these regions.
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Johann Caspar Wahl, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1754; many others followed in 1842; 1844; 1855; 1871; and 1898. Melchior Wahl came with his wife Anna Clara and their two children to Philadelphia in 1808.
Swedish: No elaboration available there.
-------------------
When I find this sort of split on a name, it is usually true that they are not related. DNA Projects can prove that fact. DNA Projects will want you to have done as much of your Family Tree for that surname as possible also.
Family Search has 463 entries on the name Wahl with the exact search on. Not many entries in Ireland, but there are everywhere else in the world.
The direct answer to your question is : the name Wahl is Not Irish
2007-03-04 13:03:01 · answer #2 · answered by BuyTheSeaProperty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wahl is definately German
2007-03-07 20:08:59 · answer #3 · answered by karenpghblue 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have family with that name who strongly identified as Irish. (maybe we're related?) I've often wondered if one of the forebearers on that side of the family had the last name of "Walsh," and perhaps the spelling got altered along the way.
2014-03-17 22:40:48 · answer #4 · answered by Shannon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
doesn't sound Irish to me.
2007-03-04 13:09:54 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe German. I have always known it to be German.
2007-03-04 12:28:47 · answer #6 · answered by jillvaughn000 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
German
2007-03-04 12:33:18 · answer #7 · answered by Patches 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋