This Polish surname of aristocratic antecedents, was not always so. In its origination, it is one of the earliest surnames in Europe and it probably derives from the Indo-Persian language of prehistory. Its original spelling form was possibly 'Vlach or Volach', but may equally have been 'Welsch or Waelisc', the German and Celtic spelling respectively. The meaning is 'the foreigner' or possibly 'refugee'. The Anglo-Saxon invaders of Britain in the 7th century called the native population 'Welsch', and these were the people who were driven into what is now Wales, Cornwall, South West Scotland, and possibly Brittany. The history of Europe being a succession of invasions, it is not surprising that this name is found in every country, the spelling being altered to suit prevailing dialects. Examples of these surnames include Wloch, Wloski, Woloschin(ski), (Poland), Walch, Wloch, Bloch, (Germany), Vlajkovic (Croat), Walsh, Welsh, Wales, (U K & Ireland), Galls, Galles, Gales, (France) - and many others. The early recordings of Woloschin give it with the prefix 'ski'. This implies a member of the aristocracy and land owning class, and is equivalent to the German 'von' or the French 'de'. The coat of arms has a blue field charged with a circle of six gold stars, around a larger central star, also gold. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Blazej Woloschinski, which was dated June 1st 1792, who was christened at Chodecz, Poland, during the reign of Pope Pius V1, reigned 1775 to 1799. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.