Whelle is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Whelle 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 Whelle family
The surname Whelle was first found in Berwickshire where they held a family seat from early times, at a place named Le Whele.
Early History of the Whelle family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whelle research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1684 and 1722 are included under the topic Early Whelle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Whelle Spelling Variations
Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Whale, Whele, Whaill and others.
Early Notables of the Whelle family
More information is included under the topic Early Whelle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Whelle family
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Whelle or a variant listed above: 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..
