This is a list of Welsh people ; 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. 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.

Actors

Architects

Artists

Designers

Entrepreneurs

Explorers

Film directors

Humourists

Inventors

Journalists and broadcasters

Military men and women

Models

Monarchs and princes

Musicians

Bands

Philanthropists

• Gwendoline Davies (1882–1951) • Margaret Davies (1884–1963) • Albert Gubay (1928–2016) • Augusta Hall, Baroness Llanover (1802–1896) • Edmund Meyrick (1636–1713) • Hugh Owen (1804–1881) • Robert Owen (1771–1858) • Thomas Phillips (1760–1851) • Eliezer Pugh (1814–1903) • Edwin Stevens (1905–1995) • Maria Jane Williams (c.1794–1873) • John Wynne (1650–1714) • Elihu Yale (1649–1721)

Philosophers

• Richard Ithamar Aaron (1901–1987) • Martyn Evans • David James Jones (1886–1947) • Henry Jones (1852–1922) • John Robert Jones (1911–1970) • Hywel Lewis (1910–1992) • John Lewis (1889–1976) • Gwilym Ellis Lane Owen (1922–1982) • Dewi Zephaniah Phillips (1934–2006) • Griffith Powell (1561–1620) • John Cowper Powys (1872–1963) • H. H. Price (1899–1984) • Richard Price (1723–1791) • Mark Rowlands (born 1962) • Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) • David Oswald Thomas (1924–2005) • Thomas Vaughan (1621–1666) • David Williams (1738–1816) • Rheinallt Nantlais Williams (1911–1993)

Politicians

Religious figures

Scientists

Sports people

Athletes

Badminton

Baseball players

Basketball players

British baseball players

Bowls

Boxers

Cricketers

Cyclists

• Jessica Allen (born 1989) • Dale Appleby (born 1986) • Elinor Barker (born 1994) • Yanto Barker (born 1980) • Reg Braddick (1913–1999) • Kara Chesworth (born 1972) • Craig Cooke (born 1984) • Nicole Cooke (born 1983) • Katie Curtis (born 1988) • Nina Davies (born 1974) • Paul Esposti (born 1972) • Alex Greenfield (born 1990) • Clare Greenwood (born 1958) • Sam Harrison (born 1992) • Anneliese Heard (born 1981) • Sally Hodge (born 1966) • Megan Hughes (born 1977) • Ellen Hunter (born 1968) • Joby Ingram-Dodd (born 1980) • Becky James (born 1991) • Ian Jeremiah (born c. 1970) • Louise Jones (born 1963) • Luc Jones (born 1991) • Sion Jones (born 1979) • Colin Lewis (born 1942) • Arthur Linton (1868–1896) • Anthony Malarczyk (born 1975) • Jimmy Michael (1877–1904) • Ruby Miller (born 1992) • Jon Mould (born 1991) • Alun Owen • Rob Partridge (born 1986) • Steve Paulding • Matt Postle (born 1970) • Roger Pratt (born 1944) • Huw Pritchard (born 1976) • Dave Rand • Ross Reid (born 1987) • Simon Richardson (born 1966) • Luke Rowe (born 1990) • Matthew Rowe (born 1988) • Paul Sheppard (born 1978) • Don Skene (born 1936) • Eddie Smart (1946–2000) • Geraint Thomas (born 1986) • Chris Williams • Julian Winn (born 1972) • Will Wright (born 1973)

Equestrians

Footballers

• 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) • 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

• Paul Affleck (born 1966) • Errie Ball (1910–2014) • Sion Bebb (born 1968) • Becky Brewerton (born 1982) • Simon Cox (born 1952) • Karen Davies (born 1965) • Rhys Davies (born 1985) • Stephen Dodd (born 1966) • Jamie Donaldson (born 1975) • Bradley Dredge (born 1973) • Brian Huggett (1936−2024) • Richard Johnson (born 1972) • David Llewellyn (born 1951) • Becky Morgan (born 1974) • Mark Mouland (born 1961) • David Park (born 1974) • Philip Parkin (born 1961) • Eleanor Pilgrim (born 1977) • Mark Pilkington (born 1978) • Phillip Price (born 1966) • Dai Rees (1913–1983) • Dave Thomas (1934–2013) • Helen Wadsworth (born 1964) • Ian Woosnam (born 1958), Ryder Cup player and former U.S. Masters champion

Field hockey

Motor sports

Rowers

Rugby players

This list includes league, female and uncapped players

Snooker players

Sport shooters

Surfers

Swimmers

Weightlifters

Wrestlers

Trade union leaders

Writers

For Welsh writers, see:

Other notables