Surname Whallen - Meaning and Origin
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Whallen: What does the surname Whallen mean?
The last name Whallen is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name Uallachain, which means "valor" or "noble." It was first found in County Roscommon, Ireland. The earliest record of the name is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, which mentions an Uallachan O'Malley as one of the Chief Seanachies of the O'Malley clan in 1555.
In Irish tradition, a person with this surname would be expected to have traits of courage, strength, and fortitude. These were highly valued traits among the Irish, and those with the surname Whallen were likely to possess them.
The Whallen surname was often used as an occupational name for people who worked as a warden or guardian. These people protected resources such as livestock, forests, or manorial assets from trespassers or robbers.
Today, the name Whallen is commonly found in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. It is believed that thousands of Irish immigrants who came to the United States in the late 19th century adopted the name as their own.
The name Whallen is a reminder of the proud Irish heritage and history of those that bear it. It is a reminder of courage, strength, and the free spirit of the Irish, and those who bear it are apt to live lives in keeping with these values.
Order DNA origin analysisWhallen: Where does the name Whallen come from?
The last name Whallen is most common in the United States. According to Census Bureau data, approximately 6,154 people in the United States have the last name Whallen. The most Whallens live in California, with 1,042 people with the same last name living there. The other top states that hold a significant amount of Whallens are New York, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The rest of the population can be found scattered throughout the other 44 states.
The Whallen surname can be found around the English-speaking world, including in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. According to Ancestry.com estimates, Whallens in these countries are much less common than in the US, with the most Whallens found in Canada. In the United Kingdom, only about 800 have the Whallen surname, in Canada, only an estimated 700, and in Australia and New Zealand, only a handful of Whallens can be found.
Whallen is not a particularly common surname, but those who bear it can trace its roots back to Ireland and Scotland, origin countries of many Americans with this naming convention. The original Gaelic version of the Whallen name translates to “Wallen” or “Wallan”, likely referring to a person from a place located on walls or by walls.
Variations of the surname Whallen
The surname Whallen can have a variety of different spellings and variants, depending on the region and background of the family. Common spellings of Whallen include Wallen, Wallin, Walen, Walin, Woollen, Woolen, Wholen, and Whalin. There are also related surnames with different spellings and origins such as Wall, Waller, Waalen, Waaler, Wollen, Wolin, Wollin, Whallin, and Whelan.
Whallen is an English surname which originates from the Old English personal name W(e)alla. As with many Old English names, the name was adopted in various forms across Europe during the Middle Ages. The surname is derived from the name of an ancestor, with the “-en” suffix denoting paternal descent.
The surname is also found in Northern Ireland, stemming from Scottish and Irish roots. Variants of the surname in this region include Whallane, Whallann, Whallane, Wallin, and Whallon.
In Germany and other parts of Europe, the Whallen surname may have its origins in Wallen, derived from the Old German name Walhen or Wala. This name was popular during the Middle Ages and derived from the Old High German word “walden”, meaning “power”.
Whallen is an uncommon surname, occurring most frequently in the United States. Variations of this surname are common throughout the world, however, giving evidence of Whallen’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
Famous people with the name Whallen
- Kevin Whallen, American football player
- Michael Whallen, British film and television producer
- Mark Whallen, American painter and sculptor
- Billy Whallen, American musician and producer
- Joe Whallen, Canadian ice hockey player
- Nick Whallen, American television writer
- Grant Whallen, American politician
- Bill Whallen, American boxer
- Meagan Whallen, Canadian football player
- Sean Whallen, American actor