Surname Wheatherley - Meaning and Origin

Wheatherley: What does the surname Wheatherley mean?

The surname Wheatherley is of English origin and is a regional name derived from the old English words "wether" and "leah" which mean "sheep" and "clearing," respectively. Hence, it can mean "a clearing where sheep are kept." This indicates that the initial bearers of Wheatherley possibly lived or worked in such an area. Usually, surnames are associated with the occupations, geographical locations, or personal characteristics of initial carriers. Flock-maintenance was a common occupation during the time when surnames developed, leading to numerous variations of surnames related to sheep-rearing. Like many surnames, over centuries and across countries, its spelling can vary. This surname is relatively rare today. It's commonly found in Britain with less frequency in other English-speaking countries. Hence, tracing specific ancestral lineage may not be straightforward without detailed genealogical research.

Wheatherley: Where does the name Wheatherley come from?

The last name Wheatherley is not very common today. It is mainly found in parts of England, such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, Shropshire and Cheshire. The last name Wheatherley was first established in the 12th century when a person with the surname Weatherley was recorded in the census taken of Derbyshire. The last name Wheatherley is believed to be derived from the old English words 'wever' meaning 'weaver' and 'leah' meaning 'meadow'. This could suggest that the people with the last name Wheatherley were weavers who inhabited meadows.

Outside of England, the last name Wheatherley is also found in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and the United States. In Scotland, the Wheatherleys are mostly found in East Lothian, Midlothian and Clackmannanshire. In the United States, however, the last name Wheatherley is not as common, and can mostly be found in small towns and cities in the Midwest, such as Kansas City, Missouri, and St. Louis, Missouri.

Despite not being as common as some other English surnames, the last name Wheatherley still holds an important place in English history. It is a testament to the hardworking people who once lived in rural meadows, tirelessly working at their craft.

Variations of the surname Wheatherley

The surname Wheatherley is an English and Irish surname of habitation origin that comes from the Old English and Middle English terms "weathur," meaning weather, and "leah," meaning a clearing. This name was likely taken on to indicate a family who lived near a particular area of rough weather or was associated with troublesome weather in some other way.

Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Weatherly, Weatherlye, Wetherlee, Wetherly, Wetherlye, Wetherell, Wetherelle, Wetherill, Wetherille, Wetherell, Wetherelle, Wetherill and Wetherille.

Other variants like Wheatherly, Depthetlee, Wheotheree, Whitherley, and Whitherlee have been found in the United States.

Variations of the name can be seen in other countries such as Ireland and Scotland, where it can be spelled as Wetherley, Wethirley, Weitherlee, and Widerly.

The spelling variations of the name Weatherley are extensive, and it is not uncommon to find one person with the same name spelled two or even three different ways. As the old English language evolved over the centuries, so did the spelling of the surname which led to many different variations and variations from one country to another.

In addition to all the forms in English, some branches of the family may have chosen to spell their surnames in French as Wethylay, Welsh as Wetherle, Gaelic as Fechmar, and Norse as Veðæðlæia.

The name Weatherley is uncommon but found throughout Anglo-Saxon countries, including the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Famous people with the name Wheatherley

• Anna Weatherley, a renowned porcelain painter and designer
• Sam Weatherley, a professional surfer from New Zealand
• John Weatherley, a former English cricketer
• Joseph Weatherley, a British silversmith active in the early 19th century
• Joseph Weatherley-Batson, a British recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Alexander Weatherley, a Ballet teacher and former Royal Ballet Company member
• Arthur Weatherley, a former English footballer
• Amy Weatherley, an English folk dancer
• David Weatherley, a British composer from the 20th century
• Sheila Weatherley, a crochet yarn designer and pattern writer

Other surnames

Wheatherlee