The name Whail reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Whail family lived in Berwickshire, at Le Whele, near the Whele Causey (Wheel Causeway) a Roman road which passes through the county. Some occurrences of the name may be derived from the original bearer's residence in Wales.
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Early Origins of the Whail family
The surname Whail was first found in Berwickshire where they held a family seat from early times, at a place named Le Whele.
Early History of the Whail family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whail research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1684 and 1722 are included under the topic Early Whail History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Whail Spelling Variations
Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Whail family name include Whale, Whele, Whaill and others.
Early Notables of the Whail family
More information is included under the topic Early Whail Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Whail family
To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Whail family to immigrate North America: Wm. Whele, who came to Barbados in 1679; Captain Whale who settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1712; Philemon Whale, who settled in Boston in 1630; and William Whale, who settled in Maryland in 1736..
