Meaning & History
Bhaltair is the Scottish Gaelic form of the name Walter.
The name Walter is derived from the Germanic name Waltheri, meaning "power of the army", from the elements walt "power, authority" and heri "army". In medieval German legends, Walter of Aquitaine appears as a heroic king of the Visigoths in the epic poem Waltharius by Ekkehard of Saint Gall. The name was also borne by an 11th-century French saint, Walter of Pontoise. The Normans introduced the name to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate Wealdhere.
Notable bearers of the name Walter include the English courtier, poet and explorer Walter Raleigh (1552-1618) and the Scottish novelist Walter Scott (1771-1832), author of Ivanhoe. A variant of Bhaltair is Bhàtair.
Bhaltair is used in Scottish contexts, reflecting the Gaelic adaptation of a name with deep Germanic roots.
- Meaning: "power of the army"
- Origin: Germanic, via Walter
- Type: Given name
- Usage: Scottish Gaelic