Show ContentsWeller History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Weller Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Weller

What does the name Weller mean?

The Weller surname is derived from the Old English word "well," meaning a well. As a name, it is thought to have been topographic, originally used for someone who lived near a well or a spring. 1 2

Early Origins of the Weller family

The surname Weller was first found in Sussex where Rishard le Weller was recorded in the Feet of Fines for 1272. Years later, Gregory Wello was found listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland in 1332. 3

"The Wellers of Dorking and its neighbourhood possess an old Surrey name. Andrew Weller was a Putney tradesman in the middle of the 17th century; and there were Wellers in the parishes of Horley and Cheam in the middle of last century (M.). Weller, the mayor of Guildford in 1778, had a namesake and probably a relative in his contemporary the rector of Guildford and East Clandon (M.). It may be that the Surrey Wellers are connected with or descended from the members of the old Kentish family of the same name who owned Kingsgate House, Rolvenden, in the reign of Charles I. and for several generations afterwards (Hasted's "Kent"). " 4

Early History of the Weller family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Weller research. Another 196 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1683, 1700 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Weller History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Weller Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Weller, Wellar, Weler, Wellere and others.

Early Notables of the Weller family

  • Richard Weller of Warbilton

Weller Ranking

the United States, the name Weller is the 2,133rd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 5

Weller migration to the United States +



Weller Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Henry Weller, who settled in New England in 1679
  • Henry Weller, who settled in America in 1679
  • Margrett Weller, aged 22, who arrived in Maryland in 1684 6
Weller Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hieronymus Weller, who landed in New York, NY in 1709 6
  • Kasper Weller, who landed in New York in 1709 6
  • Hieronymus Weller, his wife Anna Juliana and their two children, who settled in New York in 1709
  • Hans Martin Weller, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1727
  • Henrich Weller, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1727 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Weller Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Humphry Weller, on record as a "British Alien" in New York in 1812
  • Humphry Weller, aged 31, who arrived in New York in 1812 6
  • Enoch Weller, who arrived in America in 1827 6
  • Thomas Weller, who landed in New York in 1831 6
  • Jonas Weller, who arrived in America in 1835 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Weller migration to Canada +

Weller Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • William Weller, who arrived in Canada in 1840

Weller migration to Australia +

Weller Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Weller 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:

Weller Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Ellen Weller, (b. 1842), aged 20, English domestic servant, from Kent travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 9
  • Miss Charlotte Weller, (b. 1828), aged 36, British domestic servant travelling aboard the ship "Amoor" arriving in Lyttleton, South Island, New Zealand on 1st July 1864 10
  • Mr. John Weller, (b. 1853), aged 20, English carpenter from Sussex travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Surat" going to Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1873, the ship sunk at the Catlins River all the passengers were transported to Dunedin via various rescure vessels 9
  • Alfred W. Weller, aged 18, a baker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
  • Charles Weller, aged 21, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rodney" in 1875
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Weller (post 1700) +

  • Worth Hamilton Weller (1913-1931), American herpetologist who discovered Weller's Salamander
  • Mary Louise Weller (b. 1978), American actress, best known for her role in the 1978 film Animal House
  • Peter Weller (b. 1947), American film actor, and Academy Award nominated director, best known for his leading role in the first two RoboCop films
  • George Anthony Weller (1907-2002), American journalist, recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in 1943
  • Gerald C Weller (b. 1957), American politician, member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1995-)
  • Thomas Huckle Weller (b. 1915), American microbiologist, shared 1954 Nobel Prize for work on the cultivation of the polio virus
  • John Weller (1812-1875), American politician, Governor of California (1858-60)
  • Caroline S. Weller, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 20th District, 1966 11
  • Andrew S. Weller, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Ulster County 3rd District, 1865-66 12
  • ... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Royce Henry Weller (1913-1941), Australian Acting Shipwright 4th Class from Devonport, Tasmania, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 12
  • Henry Auldred Weller (1914-1939), British Stoker 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 13
  • Mr. Edward Thomas Weller (1894-1917), British Leading Stoker from Kent, who was aboard the ship "HMS Vanguard" when she exploded in the Scapa Flow off the Orkney Islands, Scotland on 9th July 1917
  • Mr. William Clifford Weller, aged 30, English Able Seaman from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 7 14
  • Mr. Weller (b. 1831), British passenger who was on board the ship "Royal Charter" when she sunk in a storm off the coast of Anglesey, Wales in 1859, presumed lost at sea
  • ... (Another 2 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Weller 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: Steady

Suggested Readings for the name Weller +

  • Many Descendants From Phillipp Weller (1615-1671/85) by Margaret Mighell Weller.
  • The Weller Family by Ralph H. Weller.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. 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)
  7. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1826 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1826
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/captain-cook
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  11. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  12. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  13. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  14. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html

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