Surname Whately - Meaning and Origin

Whately: What does the surname Whately mean?

The last name Whately has English origins, and is derived from the Old English given name Wada, a water meadow or a ford in a river. The name was spelled various ways in the Middle Ages, though the modern spelling is likely a result of phonetic variation over time.

The surname Whately appears to have originated in the west country (in England), where several small villages have been known by the same name since the time of the Domesday Book. The Earl of Cardigan and the family of the Lords Whately of Warwickshire are also said to have descended from this line.

The Whately surname could be imply nobility or refer to land holdings - implying that the owner of the land may have been wealthy and influential.

In modern times, the surname Whately may refer to an individual’s sense of style, creativity, and thoughtful consideration for family members and friends. The bearer of this name could be friendly and supportive, with a deep commitment to the well-being of others. Whateleys often display an independent, ambitious spirit that is tempered by a strong sense of justice and fairness.

Whately: Where does the name Whately come from?

The last name WHETELY is still common today in various parts of the world. It is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, Scotland, and England, as well as other parts of the British Isles. It is likely that the family originated in England or Scotland, and was then spread throughout the world by those who immigrated.

The name WHETELY is especially common in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, there are over 11,400 people with the last name today. Four of the five states with the most WHETELEYs are in the South: Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Individuals with the name can also be found in all but a handful of other states from coast to coast.

Worldwide, the name WHETELY may be found in a variety of countries, especially in the former British colonies. Countries with the most WHETLEYs include the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. As far as Europe is concerned, WHETELYs may be found in countries like Germany and France as well.

On the whole, the last name WHETELY is still quite common today. People with the surname can be found in countries all over the world, although the concentration is strongest in countries that were formerly part of the British Empire.

Variations of the surname Whately

The Whately surname is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Wæthmæl which is thought to mean "friend to everybody". This surname has several variants, spellings, and surnames with different origins.

Common variants of Whately include Wately, Waitely, Whattley, Wattley, Whitely, Whitley, and Wottley. These can also be used as alternative spellings of the same surname.

The Whately surname is believed to have arrived in England along with the Anglo-Saxon invaders, and as such, several Anglo-Saxon variants with analogous meaning could be considered as potential surnames of the same origins.

English variants of the Whately surname include Watcok, Whattock, Waves, Wathick, Wates, Wethick, Wethicke, Wethic, Weathercock, Wheełey, and Weeley.

The Whately surname has unfortunately been used in several Latin records since as early as 1260. Latin variants include Valot, Vautot, Valtot, Vautotus, Valto, Waltedot, Wathedot, Wahetot, and Waetot.

The spelling of the surname has also changed over the centuries in different languages, resulting in German variants such as Wotil, Water, Wate, and Watil. Italian variants include Watal, Whataly, Watedali, Watel, Weteli, Wateli, and Watili, while French variants are Watteau, Whatteau, Watteault, Wattiaux, Watteault, Wattelot, and Wattell.

Lastly, there are several other surnames of different origins which could be confused with Whately, likely due to similar spelling. Such other surnames include Whaley, Wheeley, and Whalley.

Famous people with the name Whately

• Thomas Whately (1726–1772), English politician, economist, and writer.
• Richard Whately (1787–1863), English logician, orator, economist, and Archbishop of Dublin.
• Jack Whately (born 1988), British actor.
• Mark Whately (born 1956), Canadian-British composer.
• Sydney Whately (1883–1932), English cricketer.
• Stephen Whately (born 1939), English photographer and film director.
• Edward Whately (1815–1898), English classical scholar.
• Ben Whately (born 1993), British musician, songwriter, and producer.
• Henry Whately (1802–1887), English clergyman and author.
• George Whately (1807–1883), English cricketer and cricket writer.

Other surnames

Whateley