Waller History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Germany 
  Ireland 


The ancient name of Waller finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from a name for a mason. 1 Hence, Waller is an occupational surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Occupational surnames were derived from the primary activity of the bearer. In the Middle Ages, people did not generally live off of the fruits of their labor in a particular job. Rather, they performed a specialized task, as well as farming, for subsistence. Other occupational names were derived from an object associated with a particular activity. The surname was given to people who worked as stone masons. This surname was established in England, in the county of Nottingham, prior to the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Early Origins of the Waller family

The surname Waller was first found in Nottinghamshire where John le Walmur was one of the first listings of the name. 2 While this is one of the first records, the name could have originated in Kent as noted "from Walers or Valers, of the Eastern Counties, probably descended from the Kentish family of Waller, who bore three leaves on a bend voided." 3

Continuing this investigation revealed William Waliere was listed as a Knight's Templar in Kent in 1185. 2 William le Waller was bailiff in Norwich in 1232.

From this point the name spread rapidly as seen by listings in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Robert le Waller in Norfolk; and Peter le Walur in Oxfordshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Thomas Dyekok, waller, and Willelmus Goderd, waller. 4

Early History of the Waller family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Waller research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1597, 1604, 1606, 1624, 1639, 1666, 1668, 1678, 1679, 1680, 1682, 1687, 1699 and 1791 are included under the topic Early Waller History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Waller Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Waller family name include Waller, Wallere and others.

Early Notables of the Waller family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Waller World Ranking

In the United States, the name Waller is the 784th most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Waller is ranked the 950th most popular surname with an estimated 4,176 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Waller is the 869th popular surname with an estimated 842 people with that name. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Waller as 580th with 11,299 people. 8

Migration of the Waller family to Ireland

Some of the Waller family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Waller migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Waller surname or a spelling variation of the name include :

Waller Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Waller Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Waller Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Waller Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Waller migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Waller Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Waller Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
Waller Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Waller migration to Australia +

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

Waller Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Waller migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Waller Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Waller migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 21
Waller Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Waller (post 1700) +


The Waller 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: Hic fructus virtutis
Motto Translation: This is the fruit of valour.
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