Whelan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Ireland 
  Scotland 


Many variations of the name Whelan have evolved since the time of its initial creation. In Gaelic it appeared as Ó Faoilain, which is derived from the word faol, which means wolf. 1

Early Origins of the Whelan family

The surname Whelan was first found in County Waterford (Irish: Port Láirge), anciently the Deise region, on the South coast of Ireland in the Province of Munster.

Saint Fillan, Foilan or Felan (d. 777?), was an Irish missionary in Scotland in the middle of the eighth century. "His commemoration day in the Scottish calendar is 9 Jan. He was the son of Feredach, a prince in Munster, and Kentigerna, daughter of Kellach Cualann, king of Leinster, and sister to St. Congan. Being thrown into a river on his birth on account of deformity, he was rescued by St. Ibar. He became a monk at first in one of the monasteries of St. Munnu Fintan, and subsequently went from Ireland to the part of Argyll afterwards called Ross, where two churches, Kilkoan and Killellan, derive their names respectively from his uncle Congan and himself. A cave and a church were also named from him in Fife." 2

Early History of the Whelan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whelan research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1658 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Whelan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Whelan Spelling Variations

Those scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Whelan family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Phelan, O'Phelan, Whelan, O'Failin, Phalen, Phalon, Phaelan and many more.

Early Notables of the Whelan family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Whelan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Whelan World Ranking

In the United States, the name Whelan is the 4,144th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Whelan is ranked the 99th most popular surname with an estimated 324 people with that name. 4 And in Australia, the name Whelan is the 526th popular surname with an estimated 7,336 people with that name. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Whelan as 807th with 8,355 people. 6


Whelan migration to the United States +

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Whelan:

Whelan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Whelan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Whelan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Whelan Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Whelan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Whelan migration to Australia +

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

Whelan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Whelan 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:

Whelan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Whelan (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Whelan +
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