Wandall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The surname Wandall is generally thought to have been a nickname derived from the Middle English word "wanles" meaning "hopeless, luckless" 1 and is found in northern England and in later years in Scotland.

However, on source disagrees and notes the name is "of uncertain origin, the usual definitions offered being, I think, improbable." 2

Early Origins of the Wandall family

The surname Wandall was first found in Northumberland. "Wanlace and Wanless are names peculiar to Northumberland" 3 recorded in 1523. 2

In Scotland, "Simon Wanles was a monk of Melrose, 1451, Robert Wanless, [was a] witness in Linlithgow, 1538. Robert Wandles was admitted deacon of Coupar-Angus in 1683, and John Wanles was tenant in Pitrodie, 1711." 2

Early History of the Wandall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wandall research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1451, 1538, 1634, 1655, 1671, 1672, 1680, 1711 and 1726 are included under the topic Early Wandall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wandall Spelling Variations

The name, Wandall, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Wandless, Wanless, Wanliss, Wanlace, Wanley, Wanlass, Wanles and many more.

Early Notables of the Wandall family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Humphrey Wanley (1672-1726), English antiquary, born at Coventry on 21 March 1671 and baptised on 10...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wandall Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wandall migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Wandall surname who came to North America were:

Wandall Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ann Wandall, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Transport" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Wandall (post 1700) +

Tekla Griebel- Wandall (1866-1940), Danish composer and music educator

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)