Welley Surname History

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The root of the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name Welley is the personal name William. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac Uilleim, which means son of William.

Early Origins of the Welley family

The surname Welley was first found in on the Isle of Harris, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland.

Early History of the Welley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Welley research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1187, 1215, 1613 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Welley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Welley Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name Welley include many spelling variations. They include They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. MacWilliam, MacQuilliam, MacKilliam, MacWilliams, MacKullie, MacCullie, MacWillie and many more.

Early Notables of the Welley family

More information is included under the topic Early Welley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Welley family to Ireland

Some of the Welley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Welley family

Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Welley, or a variant listed above: Archibald McWilliam settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1773; Alexander, Charles, Daniel, Edward, Felix, Henry, Hugh, James, John, Michael, Patrick, Richard, Thomas and William McWilliam all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..