It is natural and commendable for all people to seek some knowledge of the origin and character of their ancestors, and to gratify this desire I will give a brief outline that will be of interest to all bearing the name of Wallace, whether hailing directly from Scotland or coming by the way of Ireland. Some learned antiquarians have maintained that the original form of the name was Galleius; that in course of time it was changed to Valance, and then to Wallace. It is possible this may be correct; but the illustrations are drawn from a family with which we have nothing to do. That was an English family, had large possessions in the northeastern counties of England and across the border in Scotland, and were staunch adherents of Edward through all his wars with the Scots. Two of this family were Lord Mayors of London, and they seem to have kept themselves entirely separate and distinct from the Wallaces of the western counties of Scotland.
