Wandless History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The surname Wandless 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 Wandless family

The surname Wandless 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 Wandless family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wandless 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 Wandless History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wandless Spelling Variations

The name, Wandless, 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 Wandless 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 Wandless Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wandless 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 Wandless surname who came to North America were:

Wandless Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Margaret Wandless, who landed in America in 1765 4

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)