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Surname Whelehan - Meaning and Origin

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Whelehan: What does the surname Whelehan mean?

The surname Whelehan is an Anglicised variant of the Irish name Ó Géibheannaigh, which itself stems from the Gaelic name Mac Géibheannaigh. This surname is derived from the Irish word for ‘descendant of Géibheannaigh’.

Géibheannaigh is a personal name meaning ‘warlike’ or ‘disciple of the saint’. The original form of this name was Mac Géibhinn, which was anglicised to Mac Gee when families moved to Ireland. Over time, ‘Mac Gee’ had various translations, such as Whelan and Whelehan.

The Whelan surname appears to be distinctively Irish, originating in the province of Leinster in southeast Ireland. Early references to the Whelehan family suggest a presence in County Cork from the 13th century onwards. The surname was likely brought to Ireland by Norman settlers, who joined the invading forces of Strongbow in the 12th century.

Numerous branch families of the Whelehan surname spread across Ireland in the centuries that followed. Today, the Whelehan family is still found predominantly in Cork and its surrounding areas, where its members have contributed to Irish culture and tradition.

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Whelehan: Where does the name Whelehan come from?

The last name Whelehan is found most commonly in Ireland, particularly in counties Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, and Limerick. The name has been present in Ireland for centuries and is thought to have originally derived from the Gaelic surname O'Faoileachain. It is thought that the original form of the name, “O'Faoleachain”, means “descendant of Eochaidh”, a personal name derived from the word “eoch” meaning “horse”.

The name Whelehan is also relatively common in the United States. Most Whelehan’s in the United States are the descendants of 19th-century immigrants, mostly from Ireland. According to the US census, in 2000 there were 2,404 individuals with the Whelehan surname in the US. The states with the largest concentration of Whelehan’s are Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, and California.

Today, Whelehan’s can be found all over the world due to immigration and global travel. However, there is still a strong concentration of the name in its original homeland of Ireland.

Variations of the surname Whelehan

Whelehan is an anglicised version of the Irish surname Ó Fialáin, which originated with the Gaelic Sept of Uí Fialáin. In the Gaelic language, the name translates to 'descendant of Fialán'. This surname is widely found across Ireland, but particularly in the west and south of the country.

Variations and spellings of the Whelehan surname include O’Fialain, Fialan, O’Whelehan, Whealan, O’Hwelan, O’Flehan, O’Feeling, Wheeling, O’Feighan, and Dé Huí Fhialáin.

The surname is descended from the ancient Irish monarchy and can be found in both County Cork and County Limerick today. The family of Uí Fialáin was part of the kingdom of Thomond, which once spanned from Rosscarbery to Corofin and the Galtee Mountains, and which was a powerful kingdom for the duration of the Middle Ages.

The modern version of the name is spelt differently in Ireland than in the United Kingdom, and is also used in Scotland, with a variant spelling of Whealen. This name is often associated with MacFhaeláin, a clan from County Donegal and County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.

In other parts of the world, Whelehan is also spelled Wheelon, Velon, Vealon, and Whelan.

Overall, Whelehan is a surname that has a long and complex history in Ireland and the wider world. Its various variations and spellings serve to illustrate the ancient origin of the name and its diverse spread across the globe.

Famous people with the name Whelehan

  • Jackie Whelehan:Irish professional accountant, business leader, and public speaker
  • Meg Wheatley: American organizational theorist, author, consultant, and speaker
  • Brad Whelehan: Former professional Australian rules football player
  • Siobhan Whelehan: Irish sprinter
  • Shane Whelehan: Irish hurler
  • Dave Whelehan: Former American college football coach
  • Gerry Whelehan: Irish hurler
  • Matt Whelehan: American collegiate sports coach and scout
  • Trish Whelehan: Physician in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Minnesota
  • Bill Whelehan: Irish sports executive

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