Surname Wheelock - Meaning and Origin

Wheelock: What does the surname Wheelock mean?

The surname Wheelock has English and Scottish origins. In England, it is derived from an old Breton-Celtic personal name derived from the Middle English word whelke, meaning “round or curved shape”. In Scotland, the surname Wheelock may be a habitational name derived from places named Whealock or Wheeloc. The locations of these places are no longer known, but they were likely located in the counties of Cumbria and Lanarkshire.

The Wheelock family name has been found throughout England and Scotland since at least the 13th century. The earliest recorded instance in England of the Wheelock family name comes from the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a William Whelek is listed in Cambridgeshire.

To this day, there are many variations of Wheelock found including Wheelock, Wheelocks, Wheeliker, Wheeliker, Wheleker, and Wheleker. It is likely that the Wheelock family name has been passed down from generation to generation throughout England and Scotland since its origins.

Wheelock is a strong and resilient surname that has survived many centuries of changing times. It stands as a testament to the generations of Wheelocks that have maintained their unique surname through the centuries and remain a part of the British and Scottish history.

Wheelock: Where does the name Wheelock come from?

The last name Wheelock is most commonly found today in the United States, especially in the Northeastern states. According to the 2018 U.S. Census, 24,396 people have the last name Wheelock.

The Wheelock surname is also found in Canada, England, and Scotland. The name Wheelock is derived from an Old English place-name that means “wheat hill.” People who bore the name Wheelock in the 13th century were laborers who raised crops, usually wheat, on a hill or ridge.

In the U.S., the Wheelock surname can be found most especially in the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The highest concentrations of Wheelock families are in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The Wheelock surname is associated with some notable people throughout American history, such as the Reverend Eleazar Wheelock (1711–1779), founder of Dartmouth College, and Roger Wheelock (1746–1810), who served in both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

The Wheelock surname today still carries a bit of a whiff of New England American folk lore. It serves as an enduring reminder of the courage, hard work, and determination of our ancestors, who risked everything to make a life in a new land.

Variations of the surname Wheelock

The Wheelock surname has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most commonvariant of this surname is Wheelock, although there are a number of other spellings and surnames of similar origin. These include Wheeleck, Whelock, Wheloch, Whalock, Whealock, Wilcock, and Whelan.

Wheelock is an English name deriving from several possible origins. It may be derived from a place-name, originating from Old English “hwæl” and “-oc” meaning “spoke” or “wheel.” This could refer to a place where wheels were constructed or repaired, or could refer to circles of stones or ridges of land. It could also be derived from an Old English personal name, Hwelac, or from the Latin “velox” meaning “swift.”

Wheelock is quite a rare name, originating mainly in the north and east of England. The spelling of the name can vary considerably, often simply being an idiosyncratic detail of haphazard record keeping (especially in the 18th century). Wealock, for example, is a phonetic form of the name which, when written with a lot of contemporary spellings, becomes Wheelock.

In the US, the spelling Wheelock is most commonly seen, especially in New England. The variants Wheeleck and Whelock are also found in the US, especially in counties that border Canada. In Scotland, the form Whelehan is commonly found and is thought to have arisen when Irish immigrants settled there in the 19th century.

Overall, the Wheelock surname had a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Despite its rarity, the name is most commonly seen in the US, especially in New England. Its others forms are typically found in areas which border Canada or have a strong Irish heritage.

Famous people with the name Wheelock

• Jane Wheelock: Former Executive Director of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
• Charles Wheelock: Former President of the American Red Cross.
• Emily Wheelock Reed: Author, philanthropist and former Director of the Dayton Art Institute.
• Tasha Wheelock: Professional tennis player.
• James E. Wheelock: American civil rights leader.
• Michael Wheelock: Retired American cyclist.
• Ruth Wheelock: American jazz vocalist.
• Maureen Wheelock: Television actress best known for her role in the British television show, 'As Time Goes By'.
• Laurence Wheelock: Founder and President of L.J. Wheelock & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm focused on developing information and communication networks.
• Lester Wheelock: American actor best known for his role in the popular sitcom, 'Mr. Belvedere'.

Other surnames

WheelonWheelorWheelour