Show ContentsWhiley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In ancient Scotland, Whiley was a Strathclyde-Briton name for someone who lived in Dumfries where today more often than not, the name is typically spelt either Wylie or Wyllie. 1

Early Origins of the Whiley family

The surname Whiley was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), where the first on record was Donald Wyly, tenant of Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, 1376. Later, John Wili held a land in Montrose, 1431, and Robert Wylye was vicar of Kilcoldrum, 1434. William Wyly, was a witness in Prestwick, Ayrshire, 1446, Robert Wyly, was a charter witness in Glasgow, 1454, and Richard Wyly, was vicar of Dundee in 1458. 1

Early History of the Whiley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whiley research. Another 218 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1509, 1529, 1530, 1550, 1563, 1575, 1590, 1642, 1643, 1645, 1653, 1659, 1680, 1768, 1772, 1790, 1794, 1799, 1801, 1802, 1808, 1819, 1827, 1828, 1829, 1831, 1833, 1835, 1839, 1841, 1847, 1850, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1862, 1865, 1870, 1871, 1890 and 1891 are included under the topic Early Whiley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Whiley Spelling Variations

In Medieval times, spelling and translation were not nearly so highly developed as today. They were generally carried out according to the sound and intuition of the bearer. For that reason spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Whiley has been spelled Wiley, Wylie, Whyley, Wyley, Wilie, Wyllie and others.

Early Notables of the Whiley family

Notable amongst the family at this time was George Wyllys or Wyllis (1590-1645), born at the manor of Fenny Compton in Warwickshire, an English-born, early American politician who served as the 4th Governor of the Connecticut Colony (1642-1643.)Sir James Wylie (1768-1854), Scottish physician at the court of Russia, was born at Kincardine-on-Forth in 1768. His parents (William Wylie and Janet Meiklejohn) were in a humble position. He received the degree of M.D. from King's College, Aberdeen, on 22 Dec. 1794. In 1790 he entered the Russian service as senior...
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Whiley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Whiley family to Ireland

Some of the Whiley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Whiley migration to the United States +

Unrest, poverty, and persecution caused thousands to look for opportunity and freedom in the North American colonies. The crossing was long, overcrowded, and unsanitary, though, and came only at great expense. Many Strathclyde families settled on the east coast of North America in communities that would form the backbone of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. The American War of Independence caused those who remained loyal to England to move north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, Strathclyde and other Scottish families across North America began to recover their collective heritage through highland games and Clan societies. Among them:

Whiley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Alexander Whiley, aged 22, who landed in New York in 1812 2
  • William Whiley, aged 26, who arrived in Delaware in 1812 2
Whiley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Cecil Whiley, who landed in America from Hampshead, England, in 1908
  • George Manning Whiley, aged 58, who immigrated to the United States from Hampshead, England, in 1908
  • Clara Whiley, aged 26, who landed in America from Birmingham, England, in 1910
  • George Whiley, aged 26, who settled in America from Birmingham, England, in 1910
  • Mary Whiley, aged 40, who landed in America from London, England, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Whiley migration to Australia +

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

Whiley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mary Whiley, English convict from Derby, who was transported aboard the "America" on December 30, 1830, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 3
  • Sarah Whiley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Navarino" in 1837 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Whiley (post 1700) +

  • Charles B. Whiley, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1916 5
  • Mark Whiley (b. 1992), Australian rules footballer
  • Matthew Jeffrey Allen Whiley (b. 1980), former English cricket right-handed batsman
  • Richard Kingscote Whiley (b. 1935), former English cricket right-handed batsman
  • Manning Whiley (1915-1975), British actor from London
  • Johanne "Jo" Whiley (b. 1965), English radio disc jockey and television presenter, host of the BBC weekday Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1
  • Jordanne Whiley (b. 1992), English wheelchair tennis player from Birmingham, Britain's youngest ever National women's singles champion in wheelchair tennis at the age of 14


The Whiley 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: Fides
Motto Translation: Faith.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  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. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1830 with 135 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1830
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) NAVARINO 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837Navarino.htm
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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