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![Show Contents]() Well History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Well comes from the German region of Westphalia. The tradition of adopting hereditary surnames came to Germany after the 12th century, and the names of places where people lived were a primary source. Many local names carry the prefix "von", meaning "of" or "from". It originally indicated land ownership, and is sometimes a mark of nobility. The Well family originally lived by or near a spring. The name Well is derived from the Low German word welle, which means spring or well. The er is a common suffix for German names. There are numerous places in the German states that were named Well, Welling,Waelling, and Wellingen or that contain these root words. For example, there are places named Wellingshofen and Wellinghusen in Holstein and there is a place called Wellingbuettel in Hamburg. Early Origins of the Well familyThe surname Well was first found in the Rhineland and Westphalia, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. Chronicles first mention Nicolaus Weller of Liegnitz in Silesia in 1387, Heinrich Weller of Basel, Switzerland in the 13th century, and Heyne von Wellen of Haldesleben in the 14th century. Welle is a municipality in the district of Harburg, in Lower Saxony. Early History of the Well familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Well research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1705, 1711, 1774 and 1811 are included under the topic Early Well History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Well Spelling VariationsIn the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Well include Well, Weller (Westphalia), Welle (Westphalia), Wellers, Wellner and many more. Early Notables of the Well familyNotables of the period with the name Well were - Johann Jacob Well, who was ennobled in 1774 in reward for his outstanding services as a pharmacist and physician in Vienna...
- Joseph Well was likewise a well-known and much honored pharmacist and physician of Vienna and brought the title Edler von to the family...
Well RankingIn the United States, the name Well is the 13,882nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
 Well migration to the United States | + |
For many Germans, emigration to North America was an inviting alternative to the trials of life in the old country. From the mid-17th into the present century, thousands of Germans migrated across the Atlantic. They capitalized on the chance to escape poverty and persecution, and to own their own land. After 1650, Germans settled throughout the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also landed in Canada, settling in Ontario or father west on the rich land of the prairies. Among them:
Well Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Mary Well, who landed in Virginia in 1663 2
- John Well, who landed in Virginia in 1666 2
Well Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Christian Well, who landed in New York, NY in 1782 2
Well Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- John Well, aged 28, who arrived in St Louis, Missouri in 1842 2
- J P Well, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
| Well migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Well Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Otto Well, aged 15, who arrived in Quebec in 1868
| Well migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Well Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Francis Well, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cressy" in 1847 3
- Maria Well, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Boyne" in 1850 4
| Contemporary Notables of the name Well (post 1700) | + |
- Timothy Well (1961-2017), ring name of Timothy Alan Smith, an American professional wrestler
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CRESSY 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Cressy.htm
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The barque BOYNE 1850, 521 tons. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Boyne.htm
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Well migration to the United States 
Well migration to Canada 
Well migration to Australia 
England
Germany
