Wanless History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The surname Wanless 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 Wanless family

The surname Wanless 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 Wanless family

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

Wanless Spelling Variations

During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Wanless occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Wandless, Wanless, Wanliss, Wanlace, Wanley, Wanlass, Wanles and many more.

Early Notables of the Wanless 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 Wanless Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wanless migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of illness and the elements, were buried at sea. In North America, early immigrants bearing the family name Wanless, or a spelling variation of the surname include:

Wanless Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Elizabeth Wanless, who landed in America in 1750

Wanless Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Archibald Wanless, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1834 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Wanless (post 1700) +

Elizabeth Wanless (b. 1981), American shot putter at the 2005 World Championships
Neville Wanless (1931-2020), English broadcaster, best known for his work at Tyne Tees Television
Paul Steven Wanless (b. 1973), English former professional footballer and manager from Banbury, England
Peter Thomas Wanless CB (b. 1964), English executive and former civil servant, Chief Executive Officer of the NSPCC (2013-), Chief Executive Officer of the Big Lottery Fund (2008-2013)
Sir Derek Wanless (1947-2012), English banker and adviser from Newcastle upon Tyne
Sir William James Wanless Wanless F.A.C.S. (1865-1933), Canadian surgeon, humanitarian and Presbyterian missionary from Caledon, Ontario who founded a medical mission in India in 1894, founder of Wanless Chest Hospital, a leprosy sanatorium and tuberculosis hospital
Ian Murray Wanless (b. 1969), Australian Professor in the School of Mathematical Sciences at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, born in Canberra
Major General Robert Wanless O'Gowan CB CMG (b. 1864), British Army officer who commanded the 31st Division during the First World War

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)