Surname De Welles - Meaning and Origin
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De Welles: What does the surname De Welles mean?
The surname De Welles, commonly found in early English families, comes from the Normans who invaded England in 1066. The name is locational in nature and derives from the Old Norman "de Welle," which means "of Welle” - Welle being a town of different locations in England, such as Lincolnshire. It could also refer to a person who lived near a well or spring, from the Old English term "well(a)". So, either the surname was adopted by people who came from the town of Welle or resided near a well. Like other old and prominent surnames, it is likely to have several meanings or origins. The De Welles family was a powerful one and held many English estates, contributing to significant historical events over the centuries. They were among the most influential nobles during the medieval period in England.
Order DNA origin analysisDe Welles: Where does the name De Welles come from?
The last name De Welles is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in the South West region. It is also found sporadically in The Netherlands, Denmark, and other Scandinavian countries.
In the UK, the De Welles surname dates back to the 11th century, when it was first recorded as Belesme. It was found in records of the county of Shropshire, with traces of the name still present today. By the 12th and 13th centuries de Welles was mainly found in the counties of Wiltshire and Berkshire, with links to the Crusades and the military later appearing during the Hundred Years War.
Although hard to trace due to regular Anglicization of the name, researchers believe the surname to be of Norman origin. Historically, De Welles families were often related to local nobility due to their significant wealth and power. Gradually the surname spread throughout England, with records showing family members in Kent and Norfolk as early as the 14th century.
The descendants of De Welles families can still be found throughout the South West of England, as well as in East Anglia, Oxfordshire, and Cumberland. Over the years the spelling of the name has changed, with names such as De Wells and De Well appearing in records. Despite this, the name De Welles still remains the most common variation today.
Variations of the surname De Welles
The surname De Welles is derived from the Dutch male given name Wellem, which is a form of the German name Wilhelm or William. Variants of the surname De Welles can include Delles, Delle, Dele, Dellees, Deles, DeLes, Delees, Delles and D'Welles. It can also be seen spelled as Dwelles, Dwelle or Dwellles.
Variations of the surname De Welles can also be found in other languages. In French, the surname can be seen as D'Welles, DeWelles or De Welles. In Spanish, it can be seen as De Wells or De Welles. In German, it is sometimes written as De Welles, DeWelles, Dewelles or De Welles.
In the US, it is often modified to Welles, Wells, Walles and Walls. There are also many variants of De Welles, such as Dewells, DeWalls and DeWeles.
The name has been popular with certain families and aristocrats throughout the centuries, leaving behind different spellings and surnames. There are various branches of the name including the House of Wellese, long-standing aristocratic families with both French and Dutch roots.
It can also be seen as a part of a larger compound name, such as de Wells-Tremblay and de Wells-Hamilton. Some other variants can include de Welles-Drew and de Welles-Campbell.
The De Welles surname is found all over the world. It is most common in the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States. In the US, the name can be found particularly in the large cities of New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Famous people with the name De Welles
- Rebel Wilson: Australian actress best known for her breakout roles in the Pitch Perfect films and Bridesmaids.
- James DeWelles: English politician and Member of Parliament for Staffordshire in the seventeenth century.
- Chris DeWelles: Canadian actor known for his roles in the Canadian sitcoms Robson Arms and Godiva's.
- Jessie DeWelles: British actress who appeared in films and television shows such as BBC's Longford and The Wicker Tree.
- Edvard DeWelles: Norwegian film director, screenwriter and producer who directed the critically acclaimed drama Curling.
- Peter DeWelles: New Zealand rugby union player who represented New Zealand at the 2010 Rugby World Cup.
- Richard DeWelles: English physicist who published works on electricity and optics in the 1600s.
- Thomas DeWelles: English soldier and aristocrat who served as High Sheriff of Essex in 1632.
- Isabella DeWelles: English bowler and media personality who appeared on the BBC show TheyThink It's All Over.
- Charles DeWelles: American design engineer known for his work on early color television sets for the National Broadcasting Company.