This is a list of Welsh people (Welsh : rhestr Cymry ); an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales .
Historian John Davies argues that the origin of the Welsh nation can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain , although Brythonic or other Celtic languages seem to have been spoken in Wales since much earlier.[1] [2]
This list is for people of Welsh heritage and descent , and for those otherwise perceived as Welsh; through either birth or adoption. Only those meeting notability criteria are included. A few people appear in more than one section of the list.
Sports people
Athletes
John Ainsworth-Davis (1895–1976), gold medallist at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Jim Alford (1913–2004), British Empire Games gold medallist
Steve Barry (born 1950), Commonwealth Games gold medallist
Jamie Baulch (born 1973), 400m sprinter, Commonwealth Games bronze and silver medallist and silver medallist at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Tim Benjamin (born 1982), Commonwealth Games silver medallist
Steve Brace (born 1961), long-distance runner
Guto Nyth Brân (1700–1737), runner
Lesley Brannan (born 1976), hammer thrower
Lynn Davies (born 1942), Olympic gold medallist
Tenby Davies (1884–1932), world professional half-mile champion
John Disley (born 1928), 3000 metres steeple chaser
Dai Greene (born 1986)
Tanni Grey-Thompson (born 1969), winner of 11 gold, four silver and one bronze Olympic medals
Cecil Griffiths (1901–1945), gold medallist at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Venissa Head (born 1956), Commonwealth Games silver medallist
Colin Jackson (born 1967), hurdler
David Jacobs (1888–1976), gold medallist at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Berwyn Jones (1940–2007), sprinter and rugby league footballer
Steve Jones (born 1955), Commonwealth Games silver medallist and former marathon world record holder
Christian Malcolm (born 1979), sprinter
Robert Mitchell (born 1980), high jumper
Kay Morley-Brown (born 1963), Commonwealth Games gold medallist
Catherine Murphy (born 1975), Olympic 400m runner
Jonathon O'Dougherty , British National Ice Dance champion
Carys Parry (born 1981), Commonwealth Games hammer silver medallist
Berwyn Price (born 1951), Commonwealth Games gold and silver medallist, and Olympic 110-metre hurdler
Tom Richards (1910–1985), silver medallist at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Philippa Roles (born 1978), Commonwealth Games discus thrower
Michelle Scutt (born 1960), Commonwealth Games silver medallist and bronze medallist at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Steven Shalders (born 1981 in Bridgend), Commonwealth Games triple jumper
Tony Simmons (born 1948), Olympic 10,000-metre runner
Scott Simpson (born 1979), Commonwealth Games pole vaulter
Iwan Thomas (born 1974), 400m sprinter
Reg Thomas (1907–1946), British Empire Games gold and silver medallist, and Olympic distance runner
Angela Tooby (born 1960), Commonwealth Games bronze medallist
Susan Tooby (born 1960), Olympic long-distance runner
Hayley Tullett (born 1975), Commonwealth Games silver and bronze medallist, and Olympic middle-distance runner
Kirsty Wade (born 1962), Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and Olympic middle-distance runner
Nigel Walker (born 1963), Olympic 110m high hurdler and Wales international rugby union player
Nick Whitehead (1933–2002), Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and bronze medallist at the 1960 Summer Olympics
J.J. Williams (born 1948), Commonwealth Games sprinter and Wales international rugby union player
Rhys Williams (born 1984), Commonwealth Games bronze medallist
Neil Winter (born 1973), Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Olympic pole vaulter
Badminton
Baseball players
Basketball players
British baseball players
Bowls
Boxers
Jamie Arthur (born 1979)
Eddie Avoth (born 1945)
Albert Barnes (1913–1990)
Bill Beynon (1891–1932)
Dai Bowen (died 1912, in the sinking of the RMS Titanic )
Joe Calzaghe (born 1972), undefeated former WBO , WBA , WBC , IBF super middleweight and The Ring light heavyweight world champion
Nathan Cleverly (born 1987), former European light heavyweight title holder
Jason Cook (born 1975)
Brian Curvis (born 1937)
Dai Dower (born 1933)
Jim Driscoll (1880–1925), 'Peerless' Jim Driscoll, featherweight
Joe Erskine (1934–1990)
Tommy Farr (1914–1986)
Scott Gammer (born 1976)
Colin Jones (born 1959)
Enzo Maccarinelli (born 1980), former WBU cruiserweight title holder (7 defences)
Johnny Owen (1956–1980)
David 'Bomber' Pearce (1959–2000)
Nicky Piper (born 1966)
Steve Robinson (born 1968), former WBO featherweight world title holder (7 defences)
Lee Selby (born 1987), IBF featherweight champion
Joe Cordina (born 1991), undefeated two time IBF super featherweight champion
Tom Thomas (1880–1911), first British middleweight champion
Freddie Welsh (1886–1927)
Jimmy Wilde (1892–1969)
Howard Winstone (1939–2000)
Cricketers
Cyclists
Equestrians
Mark Aizlewood (born 1959)
Ivor Allchurch (1929–1997), Wales international
Len Allchurch (1933–2016)
Dai Astley (1909–1989)
Colin Baker (1934–2021)
Tom Baker (born 1934)
Gareth Bale (born 1989)
Tommy Bamford (1905–1967)
Walley Barnes (1920–1975)
Craig Bellamy (born 1979), striker and Wales international
Nathan Blake (born 1972)
Horace Blew (1873–1957)
Paul Bodin (born 1964)
Dave Bowen (1928–1995)
Jason Bowen (born 1972)
Mark Bowen (born 1963)
Stan Bowsher (1899–1968)
Terry Boyle (born 1958)
Ronnie Burgess (1917–2005)
Ollie Burton (born 1941)
John Charles (1931–2004), the "Gentle Giant", Wales international
Mel Charles (1935–2016)
Roy Clarke (1925–2006)
Chris Coleman (born 1970)
James Collins (born 1983)
John Cornforth (born 1967)
Vic Crowe (1932–2009)
Alan Curtis (born 1954)
Ben Davies (born 1993)
Len Davies (1899–1945)
Ron Davies (born 1942)
Wyn Davies (born 1942)
Mark Delaney (born 1976)
Robert Earnshaw (born 1981)
Trevor Edwards (born 1937)
John Elsworthy (1931–2009)
John Emanuel (born 1948)
Mike England (born 1941)
Carl Fletcher (born 1980)
Brian Flynn (born 1955)
Trevor Ford (1923–2003)
Roger Freestone (born 1968)
Danny Gabbidon (born 1979)
Ryan Giggs (born 1973), midfielder/winger, Wales international
David Giles (born 1956)
Brian Godfrey (born 1940)
Arfon Griffiths (born 1941)
Chris Gunter (born 1989)
Carl Harris (born 1956)
John Hartson (born 1975)
Terry Hennessey (born 1942)
Wayne Hennessey (born 1987)
Ron Hewitt (1928–2001)
Barrie Hole (1942–2019)
Mel Hopkins (1934–2010)
Barry Horne (born 1962)
Billy Hughes (1918–1981)
Mark Hughes (born 1963), former international and Wales manager
Joe Jacobson (born 1986), left back (Oldham Athletic and U21 national team)[3]
Leighton James (born 1953)
Robbie James (1957–1998)
Steve Jenkins (born 1972)
Roy John (1911–1973)
Bryn Jones (1912–1985)
Cliff Jones (born 1935)
Jack Jones
Joey Jones (born 1955)
Ken Jones (1936–2013)
Fred Keenor (1894–1972)
Jack Kelsey (1929–1992)
Andy King (born 1988)
George Latham (1881–1939)
Joe Ledley (born 1987)
Ken Leek (1935–2007)
Andy Legg (born 1966)
Arthur Lever (1920–2004)
John Lewis (born 1955)
Steve Lowndes (born 1960)
Billy Lucas (1918–1998)
Chris Marustik (born 1961)
Terry Medwin (born 1932)
Andy Melville (born 1968)
Billy Meredith (1874–1958)
Kenny Morgans (1939–2012), survivor of the Munich air disaster
Jimmy Murphy (1910–1989)
Lewin Nyatanga (born 1988)
Eddie Parris (1911–1971), first black player to play for Wales
Mark Pembridge (born 1970)
Jason Perry (born 1970)
Leighton Phillips (born 1949)
Ivor Powell (1916–2012)
Keith Pring (born 1943)
Tony Pulis (born 1958), manager of West Bromwich Albion
Aaron Ramsey (born 1990)
Kevin Ratcliffe (born 1960)
Gil Reece (born 1942)
Mel Rees (1967–1993)
Ronnie Rees (born 1944)
Stan Richards (1917–1987)
Sam Ricketts (born 1981)
Osian Roberts , assistant manager of Wales
Carl Robinson (born 1976)
John Robinson (born 1971)
Peter Rodrigues (born 1944)
Ian Rush (born 1961), Liverpool F.C. 's record goal-scorer and Wales international
Dean Saunders (born 1964)
Robbie Savage (born 1974)
Alf Sherwood (1923–1990)
Neville Southall (born 1959), goalkeeper, Wales' most capped player
Gary Speed (1969–2011), Wales international footballer
Gary Sprake (born 1945)
Fred Stansfield (1917–2014)
Byron Stevenson (1956–2007), Leeds United F.C. , Birmingham City F.C. player and Wales international
Derek Sullivan (1930–1983)
Kit Symons (born 1971)
Derek Tapscott (1932–2008)
Billy Thomas (1903–1991)
Rod Thomas (born 1947)
John Toshack (born 1949), former Wales and Liverpool international and National Team manager
Nigel Vaughan (born 1959)
Graham Vearncombe (1934–1993)
Roy Vernon (1937–1993)
Tony Villars (born 1952)
Colin Webster (1932–2001)
George Whitcombe (1902–1986)
Harold Williams (1924–2014)
Stuart Williams (1930–2013)
Doug Witcomb (1918–1999)
Terry Yorath (born 1950)
Golfers
Field hockey
Motor sports
Tom Cave (born 1991), rally driver
Chaz Davies (born 1987), motorcycle racer
Elfyn Evans (born 1989), rally driver
Gwyndaf Evans (born 1959), rally driver
Nicky Grist (born 1961), rally co-driver
Gary Hocking (1937–1962), motorcycle racer
Karl Jones (born 1959), BTCC driver
Mark Jones (born 1979), motocross rider
Cyril Kieft (1911–2004), racing car manufacturer and driver
Jackie Lewis (born 1936), Formula One racing driver
David Llewellin (born 1960), rally driver
Hywel Lloyd (born 1985), Formula Three racing driver
Ian Lougher (born 1963), motorcycle racer
Charlie Martin (1913–1998), Grand Prix racing driver
Phil Mills (born 1963), rally co-driver
Phil Morris (born 1975), speedway rider
J. G. Parry-Thomas (1884–1927), racing driver and one time Land Speed Record holder
Tom Pryce (1949–1977), Formula One racing driver
Alan Rees (born 1938), Formula One racing driver
Gareth Rees (born 1969), former racing driver and motorsport commentator
David Richards (born 1952), former rally co-driver and team principal of the BAR and Benetton Formula One teams
Jamie Smyth (born 1976), racing driver
Malcolm Uphill (d. 1999), Grand Prix motorcycle road racer
Freddie Williams (1926–2013), former Speedway World Champion
Rowers
Rugby players
This list includes league, female and uncapped players
Lee Beach (born 1982), captained Wales' world cup winning sevens team (Dubai 2009)
Billy Boston (born 1934), international (rugby league)
Kevin Bowring , former Wales national team coach
Non Evans (born 1975), also competed for Wales at judo, weightlifting and freestyle wrestling
Trevor Foster (1916–2005), international (rugby league)
Lewis Jones (born 1931), international (rugby league)
Rob Lewis (born 1987), Wales under 18, 19 and 20 and sevens player
Alun Wyn Jones , current captain of Wales and the Ospreys (rugby union)
Mike Powell (born 1978)
Jo Price (born 1985), rugby union player and former footballer
Mike Ruddock (born 1959), former Wales national team coach
Frank Shugars , international (rugby league)
Clive Sullivan (born 1943), international (rugby league)
Aled Thomas (born 1985), Wales under 17, 18, 19 and 21 and sevens player
Gwyn Thomas , international (rugby league)
Alex Walker (born 1986), former Newport Gwent Dragons player
Frank Whitcombe , international (rugby league), Lance Todd trophy winner
Lenny Woodard (born 1976), international (rugby union: non–test) (rugby league)
Frank Young , international (rugby league)
Snooker players
Sport shooters
Surfers
Swimmers
Weightlifters
David Morgan (born 1964), three times Olympian, three times masters world champion and holder of three world records
Wrestlers