Surname Whealan - Meaning and Origin
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Whealan: What does the surname Whealan mean?
The last name Whealan is of Irish origin and is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name O'Fogheallain. The Gaelic prefix “O” indicates “descendant of” and the suffix “Fogheallain” is a combination of two Gaelic words. The first part is “Fogh”, which means “son of” or “descendant of,” and the second part is “Allan,” an ancient Irish personal name meaning “handsome” or “full of charms.”
The original bearer of the last name Whealan, when it was first created in the 12th century, was Mostyn O'Fogheallain. He was a member of a powerful old Irish clan called the Ui Maine, which was located in what is typically considered the Galway province. After the Anglo-Norman invasion, the family was displaced to County Cavan and other parts of Ulster.
As it evolved over the centuries, the surname Whealan has had many variations in spelling, but the original meaning has remained. It is occasionally seen today spelled as Whalen or Whelan, but more commonly in the modern era as Whealan.
Those who bear the Whealan surname today are likely descendants of Mostyn, sharing their common ancestor's pride in their Gaelic heritage and his ambition to provide for his family regardless of their changed circumstances.
Order DNA origin analysisWhealan: Where does the name Whealan come from?
The name Whealan is an uncommon surname of Irish origin, and is believed to come from the Gaelic name Ó Fiannachtain, meaning "descendant of Fiannachtain". It is most commonly found in the province of Connacht in the Republic of Ireland, but is present in other parts of the world as well.
In Ireland, the name is particularly prevalent in Galway, Co. Galway - the home of many of the Gaelic-speaking Irish - as well as counties Sligo and Mayo. A great deal of immigration from Ireland during the 19th and 20th centuries brought Whealan to the United States, where it is now most commonly found in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, though there are also concentrations of Whealans in California, and small pockets around the country.
The name is also known in the neighbouring island of England, though it is nowhere near as common. However, records from the early 20th century indicate that some Whealans were among those who immigrated to the UK, especially London.
Elsewhere in the world, there are places where people bearing the Whealan surname are found, albeit in very small numbers, particularly in Argentina, Canada, and Australia. In all these places, it is likely that the name arrived through immigration, rather than being a part of the local families for many generations.
Variations of the surname Whealan
The surname Whealan has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common of these are Wheeling, Wheelan, Whalen, Whalane, Whalen, Whealen, Whealon, Whealan, Wealand, Wheland, Whelen, Whealy, Wheeldon, Whelan, and Wheelon. Most of these variants can be tracked to the Irish sept Ui Pheilain, which in turn can be linked to the OCffeilain clan.
The name Whealan is derived from the Gaelic O' Fealain, meaning 'descendant of Pheilain'. Pheilain was an old Gaelic god of the wind and storms. It is likely that the Whealans were descendants of the spiritual clan on the south-eastern side of the Carlingford Mountains in Co. Louth and Co. Dublin in Ireland, who had a vast chieftain span.
The family line has also been known to migrate to different parts of the world such as Canada, England, Scotland, Australia and the United States. The name Whealan is thought to have evolved into the many variations mentioned above, predominantly in the United States.
Throughout its many changes, Whealan has become an historic part of many cultures and a true representation of the diversity and deep-rooted cultures in Ireland and the surrounding parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Whealan
- Tommy Whealan: British rugby union player
- Thomas Whealan: American soccer player
- Karen Whealan: former professional tennis player from Australia
- Frank Whealan: Australian football player
- Chris Whealan: British professional cricketer
- Nick Whealan: former professional swimmer from Australia
- John Whealan: British born Canadian musician and record producer
- Joseph Whealan: American actor most notably known for his work on the Amazon Prime television series Sneaky Pete
- Sheila Whealan: award-winning Canadian theatre director
- Tom Whealan Jr: American film and television editor