Surname Wetherlee - Meaning and Origin
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Wetherlee: What does the surname Wetherlee mean?
The last name Wetherlee is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to have originated from geographical locations in the United Kingdom. The name seems to be a compound word comprising "wether" and "lee." In Old English, "wether" pertains to a castrated ram, and "lee" refers to a woodland or clearing. Therefore, the surname Wetherlee may suggest a family's location near a woodland where sheep were raised or it could refer to someone who was a shepherd or wool trader. Notably, many Anglo-Saxon surnames were associated with the holder’s occupation or their geographic location. However, the meaning of a surname can vary based on its historical and cultural context. Moreover, as with many surnames, variations in spelling exist such as Wetherly or Whetherly. The migrations over centuries and the evolution of language have led to such diversity and variances in surname meanings.
Order DNA origin analysisWetherlee: Where does the name Wetherlee come from?
The last name Wetherlee is most commonly found in the United States and the United Kingdom. It appears to be most concentrated in the northeastern area of the United States, specifically in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. Additional families have been found living in California, Michigan, Arkansas, and Florida as well.
In the United Kingdom, the Wetherlee name has been found primarily in Scotland. Aberdeen and Inverness-shire appear to be the most frequent locations of households with the Wetherlee surname. Smaller settlements of the Wetherlee name have been discovered in London, as well as counties like Northamptonshire and Denbighshire in Wales.
Furthermore, research has revealed that a few Wetherlee family members have emigrated elsewhere, including countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, these seldom accounts make up a very small portion of the total Wetherlee population when compared to their presence in the United States and parts of the UK.
Variations of the surname Wetherlee
The surname Wetherlee has two variations in spelling and two variations in surnames of the same origin.
The first variation is Wetherly, which is also spelled Wetherley. Both of these spellings are the most commonly seen in records. However, Wetherly is more often found in English records than Wetherley. The Wetherly variation is derived from the Anglo-Saxon settlement name ‘Wetherlai’ - which translates to ‘clearing where the wethers (mature sheep) graze’.
The two surnames of the same origin linked to the Wetherlee spelling are Weatherall and Whetherall. These both originate from the same Anglo-Saxon settlement of Wetherlai. The change in spelling likely occurred to reflect the pronunciation - Weatherall being pronounced ‘weeth orall’ and Whetherall being pronounced ‘wee-ther all’.
In conclusion, the surname Wetherlee has two common variations in spelling (Wetherly and Wetherley) and two variants in surnames (Weatherall and Whetherall) of the same origin. These all originate from the settlement of Wetherlai and likely come from its meaning ‘clearing where the wethers (mature sheep) graze’.
Famous people with the name Wetherlee
- Travis Wetherlee: a well-known Australian outdoorsman and professional photographer.
- Beverly Wetherlee: a popular American restaurateur, media personality and entrepreneur.
- Fred Wetherlee: a British television producer and director.
- Wilbur Wetherlee: a former American baseball player and coach.
- Cyrus Wetherlee: an American rapper and record producer.
- Ryan Wetherlee: a contemporary American comedian and actor.
- Evan Wetherlee: a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- William Wetherlee: an American entrepreneur and philanthropist.
- Gregory Wetherlee: a well-known California real estate mogul and investor.
- Paul Wetherlee: a prominent Texas judge.