Wailes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Wailes family came to Ireland with the Anglo-Norman invasion lead by Strongbow, Early of Pembroke, in the 12th century.

Early Origins of the Wailes family

The surname Wailes was first found in Ireland, their surname had been abbreviated to de Valle. De is French for 'from'; Valle means 'valley'; thus, this name means 'from the valley'. The name has been found in Irish Gaelic written de Bhál and O'Uaill, which means 'famous or renowned.' The latter is primarily a phonetic rendition of the Anlgo-Norman.

Early History of the Wailes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wailes research. Another 189 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1210, 1670, 1674 and 1755 are included under the topic Early Wailes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wailes Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wailes, Wales, Wallies, Wals, Walles, Wall, Walls, Wayles, Wale, Walies, Wolles and many more.

Early Notables of the Wailes family

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

Wailes migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wailes Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Friederic Wailes, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 1

Wailes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Wailes, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1846 1
Andrews Wailes, who arrived in Mississippi in 1871 1

Wailes migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Wailes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Wailes, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Medway" in 1846 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Wailes (post 1700) +

Alexandria Wailes (b. 1975), American deaf actress, Tony Honors for Excellence Recipient, 2004
Edward Thompson Wailes (1903-1969), American diplomat, Assistant Secretary of State for Administration in 1953, United States Ambassador to South Africa in 1954 and United States Ambassador to Hungary in 1956
Andrew Keith Wailes (b. 1971), Australian Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra
Rex Wailes OBE, FSA, F I Mech E (1901-1986), English engineer and historian who specializes in industrial archaeology
William Wailes (1808-1881), English businessman who owned one of England’s largest and most prolific stained glass workshops

The Wailes Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Aut Caesar aut nihil
Motto Translation: Either Caesar or No One.

Citations +

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) MEDWAY 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Medway.htm