Show ContentsWeekley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Weekley was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the country in 1066. The ancestors of the Weekley family lived in Hertfordshire, at the manor of Wakely.

Early Origins of the Weekley family

The surname Weekley was first found in Hertfordshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, conjecturally the family were descended from Ralph of Wakely, a Norman noble, who held his lands from Count Allan and was thus reflected in the Domesday Book Survey of 1086 A.D.

Early History of the Weekley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Weekley research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1600 is included under the topic Early Weekley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Weekley Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Weekley has been recorded under many different variations, including Wakley, Wakeley, Wakely, Wakelie, Wakelee, Weakley, Wakerley and many more.

Early Notables of the Weekley family

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

Weekley Ranking

In the United States, the name Weekley is the 6,724th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Weekley family to Ireland

Some of the Weekley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Weekley migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Weekleys were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Weekley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Henry Weekley, aged 58, who immigrated to the United States, in 1905
  • Albert Richard J. Weekley, aged 16, who landed in America from London, England, in 1924

Australia Weekley migration to Australia +

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

Weekley Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • "Miss Ann Weekley, (b. 1806), aged 22, English servant who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for larceny, transported aboard the ""Competitor"" on 9th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as having 1 child aboard the ship" 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Weekley (post 1700) +

  • James F. "Jimmy" Weekley (b. 1947), American politician, Mayor of Key West, Florida (1999 to 2005)
  • Thomas Brent "Boo" Weekley (b. 1973), American professional PGA golfer
  • Richard G. Weekley, American Republican politician, Chair of Barbour County Republican Party, 1973 3
  • M. R. Weekley, American Republican politician, Chair of Cooper County Republican Party, 1949 3
  • James H. Weekley, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Taylor County, 1962 3
  • James F. Weekley (b. 1947), American Democratic Party politician, Grocer; Mayor of Key West, Florida, 1999-2005; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 2004 3
  • J. R. Weekley, American Republican politician, Chair of Barbour County Republican Party, 1917 3
  • J. O. Weekley, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Boone County, 1936 3
  • Ernest Weekley (1865-1954), British philologist


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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