Wallace (surname)
Wallace is a Scottish surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French waleis, which is in turn derived from a cognate of the Old English wylisc (pronounced "wullish") meaning "foreigner" or "Welshman" (etymology; see also Wallach and Walhaz). The original surname may have denoted someone from the former Kingdom of Strathclyde who spoke Cumbric, a close relative of the Welsh language, or possibly an incomer from Wales, or the Welsh Marches. The Kingdom of Strathclyde was originally a part of the Hen Ogledd, its people speaking a Brythonic language distinct from Scottish Gaelic and the English derived from Lothian. In modern times, in the 19th and 20th centuries, the surname has been used as an Americanization of numerous Ashkenazic Jewish surnames.
People with the surname Wallace
Academia
- Alexander Doniphan Wallace (1905–1985) American mathematician
- Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913), British naturalist and biologist
- Andrew H. Wallace (1926–2008), Scottish-American mathematician
- Carden Wallace, Australian marine biologist
- Chris Wallace (computer scientist) (1933–2004), Australian computer scientist and physicist, developer of Minimum Message Length
- David R. Wallace, American software engineer and inventor
- David Rains Wallace, author on conservation and natural history
- David Wallace (physicist) (born 1945), British physicist and Master of Churchill College, Cambridge
- David Wallace (professor), American scholar of medieval literature
- Ernest Wallace (1906–1985), American historian
- Frank R. Wallace (1932–2006), author and philosopher
- Ian Wallace (ornithologist), British ornithologist and natural history author
- J. M. Wallace-Hadrill (1916–1985), British academic and historian
- John Higgins Wallace, Jr. (1906–1989), American chemist
- John L. Wallace (born 1956), Canadian medical scientist
- John Michael Wallace, American atmospheric scientist
- Mike Wallace (historian), American historian
- Perry Wallace, American law professor and first African American athlete in the Southeastern Conference
- Raymond L. Wallace (1918–2002), American Bigfoot researcher
- Richard Wallace (scientist), artificial intelligence researcher
- Robert Charles Wallace (1881–1955), Scottish-born Canadian geologist, educator, and administrator
- William Wallace (philosopher) (1844–1897), Scottish philosopher
- William Wallace (mathematician) (1768–1843), Scottish mathematician
- William Wallace, Baron Wallace of Saltaire (born 1941), British academic, writer and politician
- William A. Wallace (organizational theorist) (born 1935), Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- William E. Wallace (1917–2004), physical chemist
- William S. Wallace (born 1946), General in the United States Army
Armed forces
- Christopher Wallace (British Army officer) (born 1943), retired British Army general and trustee of the Imperial War Museum
- Colin Wallace (born 1943), British soldier and psychological warfare operative
- George W. Wallace (1872–1946), American soldier
- Herman C. Wallace (1924–1945), American soldier
- James Wallace (Royal Navy officer) (1731–1803), Royal Navy officer
- Lew Wallace (1827–1905), American Civil War general and author
- Martin Wallace (soldier) (born 1969), Australian SASR soldier
- Martin R. M. Wallace, American Union brevet brigadier general
- Robert Wallace (British Army officer) (1860–1929), Irish lawyer, soldier and politician
- Samuel Thomas Dickson Wallace (1892–1968), Scottish soldier
- W. H. L. Wallace (1821–1862), Union general in the American Civil War
- William Wallace (died 1305), Scottish landowner who became one of the main leaders during the wars of Scottish Independence
- William Henry Wallace (1827–1901), Confederate general and South Carolina state legislator
- William Miller Wallace (1844–1924), U.S. Army general
Law
- John Wallace (New Zealand judge) (1934–2012), chairman of the Royal Commission on the Electoral System, 1986
- John Clifford Wallace (born 1928), United States federal judge
- John E. Wallace, Jr. (born 1942), former New Jersey Supreme Court justice
- John William Wallace (1815–1884), American lawyer
- Michael Wallace (lawyer) (born 1951), U.S. lawyer
- William Robert Wallace (1886–1960), American judge
- William James Wallace (1837–1917), lawyer and federal judge in the United States
- William T. Wallace (1828–1909), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California and an Attorney General of California
Media (actors, artists, writers, journalists)
- Andy Wallace (producer), music studio engineer
- Barbara Brooks Wallace, American children's writer
- Bill Wallace (author) (born 1947), American author of children's books
- Bronwen Wallace (1945–1989), Canadian poet and short story writer
- Chris Wallace (born 1947), newscaster at ABC, NBC, and Fox News
- Chris Wallace-Crabbe (born 1934), Australian poet
- Christine Wallace (born 1960), Australian journalist and author
- Daniel Wallace (author) (born 1959), American author
- Danny Wallace (humourist) (born 1976), British comedian, author and presenter
- David Wallace (actor) (born 1958), American actor
- David Foster Wallace (1962–2008), American novelist
- Dee Wallace (born 1948), American actress
- DeWitt Wallace (1889–1981), American co-founder of Reader's Digest magazine
- Donald Mackenzie Wallace (1841–1919), British public servant, journalist and author
- Edgar Wallace (1875–1932), British crime writer
- George Wallace (comedian) (born 1952), American comedian
- George Wallace (poet) (born 1949), American poet
- Ian Wallace (author) (1912–1998), science fiction author
- Ian Wallace (artist) (born 1943), pioneer of Vancouver's conceptual art movement
- Ian Wallace (illustrator), illustrator of children's books
- Ian Wallace (photographer) (born 1972), Tasmanian landscape photographer
- Irving Wallace (1916–1990), American author and screenwriter
- Jean Wallace (1923–1990), American actress
- Jessie Wallace (born 1971), English actress
- John Graham Wallace (born 1966), English author of children's books
- Kevin Wallace (born 1957), Irish theatrical producer
- Lila Bell Wallace (1889–1984), American co-founder of Reader's Digest magazine
- Marcia Wallace (1942–2013), American actress
- Marjorie Wallace (born 1954), American model, actress and presenter
- Mike Wallace (1918–2012), television correspondent
- Naomi Wallace, American playwright, screenwriter and poet
- Nick Wallace (born 1972), British author
- Randall Wallace (born 1949), American writer and film director
- Richard Wallace (director) (1894–1951), American film director
- Richard Wallace (journalist) (born 1961), British newspaper editor
- Rowena Wallace (born 1947), English-born Australian actress
- Tommy Lee Wallace (born 1949), American film producer, director and screenwriter
- William O. Wallace, Hollywood set decorator
- William Ross Wallace (1819–1881), American poet
Musicians
- Aria Wallace (born 1996), American actress and singer
- Beryl Wallace (c. 1909–1948), American singer, dancer and actress
- Bill Wallace (musician) (born 1949), Canadian rock-and-roll musician
- Chris Wallace (musician) (born 1985), lead vocalist for The White Tie Affair
- Christopher George Latore Wallace (1972–1997), aka The Notorious B.I.G., American rap artist
- David Wallace (composer) (born 1982), Irish composer and conductor
- Frank Wallace (piper) (fl. late 1800s), Irish musician
- Ian Wallace (drummer) (1946–2007), drummer with King Crimson, Bob Dylan, and many others
- Ian Wallace (singer) (1919–2009), singer and contestant on My Music
- Jerry Wallace (1928–2008), American country and pop singer
- John Wallace (musician) (fl. 1971– present), American bassist and singer
- John Wallace (UK musician), member of The Stargazers musical group
- John Bruce Wallace, American musician and artist
- Michael Wallace (piper) (fl. late 1800s), Irish musician
- Simon Wallace (born 1957), British composer and pianist
- Sippie Wallace (1898–1986), American singer-songwriter
- Stewart Wallace (born 1960), American composer
- William Wallace (Scottish composer) (1860–1940), Scottish composer
- William Vincent Wallace (1812–1865), Irish composer
Politics and business
- Ben Wallace (UK politician) (born 1970), British Conservative politician
- Bess Truman (1885–1982), born Elizabeth Virginia Wallace, wife of U.S. President Harry S. Truman
- Bob Wallace (1949–2002), early Microsoft employee
- Dan Wallace (born 1942), Irish Fianna Fáil politician
- David Wallace (Indiana politician) (1799–1859), 6th Governor of Indiana
- David G. Wallace, American businessman and politician, mayor of Sugar Land, Texas
- David Wardrope Wallace (1850–1924), Canadian MP for Russell, 1903–1904
- Euan Wallace (1892–1941), British Conservative politician
- G. Frank Wallace (1887–1964), New York state senator
- George Wallace (1919–1998), 45th Governor of Alabama
- George Wallace, Jr. (born 1951), American politician
- Henry A. Wallace (1888–1965), 33rd Vice President of the United States
- Henry Cantwell Wallace (1866–1924), farmer, journalist and political activist
- I. T. A. Wallace-Johnson (1894–1965), Sierra Leonean journalist, activist and politician
- Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness (born 1954), British politician and former Deputy First Minister of Scotland
- John Wallace (Australian politician) (1828–1901), Australian politician
- John Wallace (Canadian politician) (1812–1896), New Brunswick farmer and member of the Canadian House of Commons
- John Wallace (Florida politician) (1842–1908), Florida Republican politician
- John Wallace (Scottish politician) (1868–1949), Member of Parliament for Dumfermline Burghs
- John Alexander Wallace (1881–1961), Canadian politician
- John D. Wallace (born 1949), Canadian politician
- John Winfield Wallace (1818–1889), US Congressman from Pennsylvania
- Jonathan H. Wallace (1824–1892), United States Congressman
- Lurleen Wallace (1926–1968), 46th Governor of Alabama
- Marjorie Wallace (SANE) (born 1945), CEO of SANE, the mental health charity
- Mark Wallace, American businessman, diplomat and lawyer
- Martin Kelso Wallace, Lord Mayor of Belfast
- Mary Wallace (born 1959), Irish Fianna Fáil politician
- Michael Wallace (politician) (died 1831), Scottish-born merchant, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia
- Mick Wallace (born 1955), Irish politician, football manager and property developer
- Mike Wallace (politician) (born 1963), Canadian politician
- Robert Wallace (Canadian politician) (1820–?), Canadian Member of Parliament
- Robert Wallace (Edinburgh MP) (1831–1899), British Member of Parliament for Edinburgh East, 1886–1899
- Robert Wallace (MP for Greenock) (1773–1855), Scottish politician, MP for Greenock, 1832–1845
- Robert Wallace (MP for Perth) (1850–1939), Irish-born politician, MP for Perth, 1895–1907
- Robert M. Wallace (1856–1942), United States Representative from Arkansas
- William Wallace (Canadian politician) (1820–1887), Scottish-born merchant and politician in Ontario
- William A. Wallace (1827–1896), U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
- William C. Wallace (1856–1901), U.S. Representative from New York
- William H. Wallace (1811–1879), first territorial governor and Congressional delegate from Idaho Territory
- William J. Wallace (Indianapolis mayor), 7th Mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana
Religion
- Duncan Wallace (1938-2015), Canadian Anglican Bishop of Qu'Appelle
- Foy E. Wallace (1896–1979), American Churches of Christ minister
- John Wallace (bishop) (1654–1733), Scottish Roman Catholic prelate
- Martin Wallace (bishop) (born 1948), English Anglican Bishop of Selby
- Robert Wallace (minister) (1697–1771), minister of the Church of Scotland and writer on population
- Robert Wallace (Unitarian) (1791–1850), English Unitarian minister
- Ronnie Lee Wallace (minister) (born-1958)
Minister of Marietta Vineyard Church of Georgia USA
- William Wallace (Jesuit) (1863–1922), Irish Jesuit and Indologist
Sport
- A. J. Wallace (American football) (born 1988), American football player
- Andy Wallace (racing driver) (born 1961), British race car driver
- Ben Wallace (born 1971), American basketball player
- Bill Wallace (American football) (1912–1993), American football player
- Bill Wallace (martial artist) (born 1945), American karateka and kickboxer
- Billy Wallace (1878–1972), New Zealand rugby union player
- B. J. Wallace (born 1971), former American Minor League Baseball pitcher
- Bo Wallace (born 1992), American football player
- Bob Wallace (American football) (born 1945), former American football player
- Bob Wallace (footballer born 1948), English footballer
- Bob Wallace (footballer born 1893) (1893–1970), footballer for Nottingham Forest
- Bob Wallace (test driver), New Zealand racing driver instrumental in the founding of automaker Lamborghini
- Bobby Wallace (American football) (born 1954), American college football coach
- Bobby Wallace (baseball) (1873–1960), American baseball player
- Chris Wallace (American football) (born 1975), American football quarterback
- Chris Wallace (NBA general manager), General Manager of the Memphis Grizzlies
- Darrell Wallace Jr. (born 1993), American stock car driver
- Dave Wallace (baseball) (born 1947), American baseball coach and player
- David Wallace (catcher) (born 1979), American professional baseball player
- David Wallace (footballer), New Zealand international soccer player
- David Wallace (rugby union) (born 1976), Irish rugby union player
- Derek Wallace (born 1971), American baseball player
- Doc Wallace (1893–1964), American baseball player
- Don Wallace (born 1940), American baseball player
- Frank Wallace (soccer) (1922–1979), American soccer player, nicknamed "Pee Wee"
- Gerald Wallace (born 1982), American basketball player
- Harold Wallace (born 1975), Costa Rican soccer player
- Heather Wallace (born 1961), Canadian squash player
- Huck Wallace (1882–1951), American baseball player
- Ian Wallace (footballer) (born 1956), Scottish international footballer
- Jack Wallace (American football) (c. 1925–1995), American football player and coach
- Jack Wallace (baseball) (1890–1960), American baseball player
- Jackie Wallace (born 1951), American football player
- Jarrod Wallace (born 1991), Australian Rugby League player
- Jock Wallace, Jr. (1935–1996), Scottish football player and manager
- John Wallace (American football), college football coach, head football coach at Rutgers University
- John Wallace (basketball) (born 1974), American basketball player
- John Wallace (cricketer) (born 1924), South African-born first-class cricketer, who played for Rhodesia
- John Wallace (rower) (born 1962), Canadian rower
- John Wallace (sailor) (1903–1990), American sailor
- Jonathan Wallace (born 1986), American basketball player
- Keith Wallace (boxer), English boxer of the 1970s, '80s and '90s
- Ken Wallace (canoeist) (born 1983), Australian sprint canoer
- Ken Wallace (cricketer) (born 1936), English cricketer
- Kenny Wallace (born 1963), American stock car driver
- Lee Wallace (born 1987), Scottish football player
- Mike Wallace (baseball) (born 1951), American baseball player
- Mark Wallace (cricketer) (born 1981), Welsh cricketer
- Merv Wallace (1916–2008), New Zealand cricketer
- Mike Wallace (American football) (born 1986), American football wide receiver
- Mike Wallace (racing driver) (born 1959), race car driver
- Peter Wallace (born 1985), Australian Rugby League player
- Philo Wallace (born 1970), Barbadian cricketer
- Raphael Wallace (born 1957), Nevisian cricketer
- Rasheed Wallace (born 1974), American basketball player
- Rod Wallace (born 1969), English football player
- Ross Wallace (born 1985), Scottish football player
- Rusty Wallace (born 1956), American NASCAR driver
- Seneca Wallace (born 1980), American football player
- Steve Wallace (American football) (born 1964), American football player
- Steve Wallace (NASCAR) (born 1987), American race car driver
- Terry Wallace (born 1958), Australian football player and coach
- William Wallace (rower) (born 1904), Canadian Olympic rower
- William Middleton Wallace (died 1915), Scotland rugby player
- Willie Wallace (born 1940), Scottish footballer
Fiction
- Barret Wallace, fictional character in Final Fantasy VII
- Beth Wallace, fictional character in the soap opera Passions
- Chris Wallace (EastEnders), an EastEnders character
- David Wallace (The Office), CEO of Dunder Mifflin on the US TV series The Office
- Eli Wallace, fictional character on the TV science fiction drama series Stargate Universe
- Marsellus Wallace, fictional gangster portrayed by Ving Rhames in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction
- Nicole Wallace, fictional character on the TV drama series Law & Order: Criminal Intent
- Nathan Wallace and Shilo Wallace, fictional characters in Repo! The Genetic Opera\
Other
- David A. Wallace (1917–2004), urban planner and architect
- Frank Wallace (gangster) (before 1910–1931), Irish-American gangster from South Boston
- John Findley Wallace, American engineer best known as the Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal between 1904 and 1906
- John-Paul Wallace (born 1976), English chess player
- Joseph Wallace (1990–1993), American two-year-old murdered by his mother
- Keith Wallace (wine writer), wine columnist for The Daily Beast, and founder of the Wine School of Philadelphia
- Martin Wallace (game designer), English game designer
- Michele Wallace (born 1952), African American feminist
- Minik Wallace (c. 1890–1918), Greenland-born Inuk brought to America for study
- Sir Richard Wallace, 1st Baronet (1818–1890), English art collector
- Sanford Wallace (born 1968), self-proclaimed "Spam King"
- Staker Wallace (1733–1798), Irish freedom fighter
- William Wallace (died 1305), Scottish leader in the 1st Wars of Scottish Independence
- William Wallace (mason) (died 1631), Scottish master mason and architect
- William A. A. Wallace (1817–1899), Texas Ranger captain with the nickname "Bigfoot"
- William Herbert Wallace (1878–1933), English convicted 'murderer', later found to be innocent on appeal
- William Kelly Wallace (1883–1969), Irish railway engineer
- William Wallace Lincoln (1850–1862), son of Abraham Lincoln