Show ContentsWakeling History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Wakeling family

The surname Wakeling was first found in Huntingdon, where they had been granted lands by William the Conqueror, and were originally from the Norman French name Walchelyn.

Walkelin or Walchelin (d. 1098) was Bishop of Winchester. He was "a Norman by birth, and is said to have been a kinsman of the Conqueror. He was probably one of the clergy of the cathedral church of Rouen, for Maurilius (d. 1067) knew him well and spoke highly of him, and he was one of William's clerks. " 1

Early History of the Wakeling family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wakeling research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1210 and 1211 are included under the topic Early Wakeling History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wakeling Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wakelyn, Wakelin and others.

Early Notables of the Wakeling family

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


Wakeling migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wakeling Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Wakeling, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 2
  • Elizabeth Wakeling, who settled in Annapolis Maryland in 1724
Wakeling Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Wakeling, who landed in America in 1801-1802 2
  • Samuel Wakeling, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803

Wakeling migration to Australia +

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

Wakeling Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Wakeling, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canton" on 20th September 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
  • William Wakeling, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Magdalena" 4

Wakeling 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:

Wakeling Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Wakeling, aged 30, a ploughman, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 5
  • Mary A. Wakeling, aged 29, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 5
  • Horace Wakeling, aged 8, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 5
  • Gertrude Wakeling, aged 4, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Wakeling (post 1700) +

  • Gwen Wakeling (1901-1982), American costume designer for Cecil B. deMille, winner of an Academy Award for her work in "Samson and Delilah" in 1950
  • Rt. Rev. John Dennis Wakeling, Bishop of Southwell


  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canton
  4. South Australian Register Friday 26th August 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Magdalena 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/magdalena1853.shtml
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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