This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: madelinescully Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.england.yks.general/14800.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: There were a number of families with the surname Welsh, Walsh or Welch in that general area. I have a Thomas Welsh born 1802 in Rainton in Durham, not far from this area. Welshes of this family were sometimes registered/baptised as Welch or Walsh and can be found in Rainton Eng, East Rainton, Washington (nr Biddick), Houghton le Spring, Evenwood, and Eassington. The families were huge and most were connected in some way with the mining industry. My own Welsh line dates back to the 1600s in that general area and is intermingled with Watsons, Walkers, Parkins, Mortons and Lowes families. Let me know if any of these names or places match with yours. I have a huge amount of information on these familes. Angela Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.