Walt

The name Walt is a short form of the Germanic name Walter, derived from the Old German words "wald" meaning "ruler" and "heri" meaning "army". The name can be traced back to the 8th century AD when it was commonly used among the Franks and other Germanic tribes.

Walter was a popular name during the Middle Ages, particularly in England and France. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name is Walter of Coutances, a Norman archbishop who lived in the late 11th century. The name also appears in literary works such as the 12th-century chanson de geste "The Song of Roland".

The shortened form Walt emerged in the late 18th century and became more widespread in the 19th century. One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Walt was Walt Whitman, the American poet and essayist, born in 1819 and regarded as one of the most influential poets in the American canon.

Other notable individuals named Walt throughout history include Walt Disney, the American entrepreneur, animator, writer, voice actor, and film producer, born in 1901 and co-founder of The Walt Disney Company. Walt Whitman Rostow, an American economist and political theorist born in 1916, served as a Special Assistant for National Security Affairs under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

Walt Frazier, an American professional basketball player born in 1945, was a seven-time NBA All-Star and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Walt Bellamy, an American professional basketball player born in 1939, was a four-time NBA All-Star and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.