Wheeley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Wheeley family

The surname Wheeley was first found in Cornwall where the first record is of Isabella del Wele in 1297. Later, Hugh atte Wheole was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327. The name is thought to have been derived for "one who lived near or was in charge of a water-wheel (OE hweol ‘wheel’)." 1 Another source claims the name is derived from "Wheal (huel), a Cornish word for a mine, as Wheal Mary, Wheal Jewell, Wheal Fortune, &c. The first bearer of the surname probably resided near some tin or lead mine." 2

In some cases the name was used as a forename: "Wheal Batson in St. Agnes; Wheal Vyvyan in Constantine; Wheal Whidden in Kea." 3

Early History of the Wheeley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wheeley research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1609 and 1740 are included under the topic Early Wheeley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wheeley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Weele, Weel, Wheel, Wheal, Wheale, Wheele, Wele and others.

Early Notables of the Wheeley family

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

Wheeley migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wheeley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Wheeley, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 4

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. 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)