Surname Wheelahan - Meaning and Origin
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Wheelahan: What does the surname Wheelahan mean?
The last name Wheelahan is an Irish surname that has been anglicized from the Gaelic word “ulaan”, which has the meaning of “wheel”. There is a corresponding Irish family name, Ó Maoil Ulaan, which originally denoted someone who was related to or affiliated with a wheel maker or possibly even a wheeled vehicle maker. The oldest recorded surname in Ireland that has a similar spelling is O’Ulteen, which has been recorded since the mid-13th century.
The Wheelahan surname is believed to have originated in the County Leitrim or Donegal region of Ireland in the 16th century, indicating the family was likely among the original seventeenth century Gaelic settlers in the region. It is also possible that the Wheelahan’s were displaced Irish families who took refuge in Scotland in the 19th century. The Wheelahan’s likely became associated with the wheel industry since the widespread use of vehicles, such as chariots, carts and coaches, was becoming more commonplace during this period.
Wheelahan’s in Ireland have since moved to other parts of the world, including Canada and the USA. Some other variants of the name include Whalahan, Woolahan, Whelan, Wholahan, Whalehan, and Whealen. There is evidence of the surname in the United States that dates back to the mid-1800’s.
Overall, the last name Wheelahan means “related to or having the skill of wheel-making” and has its origins in Ireland, with ties to Scotland. The many branches of the Wheelahan family have since scattered to all corners of the globe.
Order DNA origin analysisWheelahan: Where does the name Wheelahan come from?
The last name Wheelahan is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly the regions of Scotland, Ireland, and England. It is believed to be an Irish surname of Gaelic origin, deriving from the personal name "Mac Fhioghail", meaning "son of the fierce one".
The surname can be found in more frequent instances in central and southern Ireland, though it is a fairly uncommon last name overall. According to one source, the average frequency of the name Wheelahan is 1 in 10,000, suggesting that it has a low profile in the modern day. In the 1800s, it was estimated to be found most frequently in the counties of Cork, Waterford, Kerry, and Limerick in Ireland.
The Wheelahan name is much less evenly spread in England, with many concentrations in the West Midlands, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. However, the name is also found more widely spread across the UK and North America. In Canada, many Wheelahans can be found in the province of Ontario, while the United States sees concentrations of more than twenty Wheelahans in the states of New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
In conclusion, the last name Wheelahan is fairly rare today, but it can be located frequently in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Wheelahan
Wheelahan is an Irish surname that is derived from the Old Norse name Hvílhjalmr, meaning “wheel helmet”. It is believed to have originated from a decorated warrior helmet that featured a wheel as part of its design. The name has been spelled various ways, including Whelan, Whelehan, Woelahan, Welhehan, and Woolaghan.
Variants of the name Wheelahan include the Anglicized Wheland, Whelan, Wharan, Whelen, Welan, Wheylin, Wheling, and Whalen. The Irish spellings are Whallen, Whelahan, Wheaghane, Whelehan, Whailen, Woelehan, Whoolaghan, and Weohagan. Variations of the name with the prefixes Mac and O’ are MacWhallen, MacWhelahan, O’Whallen, and O’Whelehan.
The Wheeland surname is of particular note as it is considered the most common form of the Wheelahan name outside of Ireland. The Wheeland spelling is found mostly in the United Kingdom and South Africa, particularly among descendants of Irish immigrants who fled to these countries during the Great Famine of the mid-1800s.
The Wheland surname has also been used as a middle name, and sometimes as a given name, in various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In some cases, this has resulted in an entirely new surnames such as Wheelend, Whelland, and Wagelen.
In summary, the Wheelahan surname is most associated with Ireland, though it has been spelled in a variety of ways by those who emigrated to other countries. Additional spellings and variants include Wheland, Whelan, MacWhallen, and MacWhelahan, as well as other surnames derived from the given name such as Wheelend, Whelland, and Wagelen.
Famous people with the name Wheelahan
- Matt Wheelahan: an Australian actor best known for appearing on Home and Away and for roles in mystery films.
- Kelly Wheelahan: an Australian actress, playing played prominent roles in several television series, films and theatre productions.
- David Wheelahan: a Canadian actor known for appearing on the television series Trailer Park Boys and for voiceover work on animated films.
- Ray Wheelahan: an American musician, best known as the lead singer of the band Rascal Flatts.
- Annette Wheelahan: an Australian novelist, best known for her crime-thriller series The Watcher.
- Kieron Wheelahan: an Irish footballer, who currently plays for League of Ireland Premier Division side Drogheda United.
- Laura Wheelahan: an English fashion designer, best known for designing clothing for the high street chain River Island.
- Lisa Wheelahan: an Australian radio presenter, working on the morning breakfast show on ABC Radio Sydney.
- Alan Wheelahan: an English footballer, known for his time with Manchester United and England.
- Brian Wheelahan: an American photographer, specializing in underwater photography.