Surname Wakeling - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wakeling: What does the surname Wakeling mean?
Wakeling is an English surname that has roots in ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name is derived from the Old English personal name "Wacol", which translates to "awake" or "watchful". So essentially, the surname Wakeling could be interpreted to mean "the descendant of Wacol", or more abstractly, "descendant of the watchful one".
The surname also has a connection to a location named Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. The suffix "-ing" implies "people of" or "followers of", thus the name Wakeling could also signify "people from Wakefield".
Like many surnames, Wakeling evolved over many centuries and often under the impact of regional dialects and spelling variations. Today, there are many variants of the name including Wakelin, Wakelyn, and Wakeley.
It's important to remember that surnames serve as links to both personal and regional histories. Despite the variations and potential interpretations, individuals carrying the Wakeling name can be proud of their heritage and the strength and vigilance implied by their surname.
Order DNA origin analysisWakeling: Where does the name Wakeling come from?
The last name Wakeling is mainly found in the United Kingdom (UK). Wakelings have settled in many areas of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland over the years.
In 2018, the nationwide directory Census of Great Britain recorded that around 827 people in the UK share the last name Wakeling. The regions with the highest concentration of the Wakeling population are Kent and East Sussex, with more than 450 Wakelings, followed by Leicester and London, with more than 100 Wakelings.
The majority of Wakelings live in England, where the highest concentration of the population is in the South East. Other notable groupings of Wakelings are found in Cheshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire. Scotland has the smallest population of Wakelings, at just over 50 people.
In the United States (US), Wakelings can be found mainly in the northeast section of the country. Specifically, Wakelings are most commonly found in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, upstate New York, and even New Jersey.
The last name Wakeling can also be found in Canada, where it seems to be mostly concentrated in the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
Overall, the last name Wakeling is still quite rare, with most current Wakelings living in the UK, US, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Wakeling
The surname Wakeling is of English origin, deriving from a place name. Wakeling is a habitational name, a type of surname that is derived from a place-name where the original bearer of the surname either lived or held land. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Wakeling include Wakling, Wakelyn, Wakilin, Wakelon, Wakely, Waicker, Wageline, Wackling, Wakeland, Wacking, Weckling and Weekling.
Wakeling is an occupational name derived from the Old English word ‘waecelling’ meaning ‘weaver.’ The Wakeling family likely originated at places such as Wakeling in Cornwall, and Wakeling in Nottinghamshire. In some instances, variants of Wakeling may be derived from the surname Wacklin which is a habitational surname derived from Wücklingen in Switzerland.
Surnames of the same origin which may have derived from the Wakeling surname include Wackerly, Weekes, Wackerman, and Weckerly.
The modern spelling of Wakeling appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, as Wakelin. Early bearers of the Wakeling name lived in Gloucestershire where they were found since the 14th century. The name Wakeling is also found alongside some of the earliest settlers in North America, such as Thomas Wakeling who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1683.
The Wakeling surname is found today in Ireland, Scotland and Canada as well as throughout the English speaking world.
Famous people with the name Wakeling
- Tom Wakeling: Canadian comedian, actor, painter, composer, and director.
- John Wakeling: British geologist, environmental scientist, and paleobotanist.
- Adrienne Antoinette Wakeling: American poet, novelist, and visual artist.
- Mark Wakeling: English footballer who played for Staines Town.
- Heather Wakeling: Canadian singer-songwriter.
- Robert Wakeling: British impressionist painter.
- Adam Wakeling: English footballer who played for Birmingham City.
- Craig Wakeling: Australian professional basketball player.
- A.R. Wakeling: Australian comedian, entertainer and screenwriter.
- Colonel John Wakeling: British soldier, adventurer, and author.