Surname Whellens - Meaning and Origin
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Whellens: What does the surname Whellens mean?
The last name Whellens is thought to be derived from the Old English words “hwel” and “hengest” which, when combined, mean “hindmost horseman.” It is believed the name was given to a person who was known for leading the rear of a group or being the last rider in a horse-mounted militia. It is also possible the name was given to a person with an exceptionally swift horse.
The Whellens are thought to have originated in London, England, with the earliest record of the name was found in the Domesday Book, a survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror. The name continued to be used throughout the ages and records of the name can be found in various medieval documents.
The name has spread across the world, from England to Ireland to Australia. It is also found scattered throughout the United States. In modern times, it is believed the Whellens have mainly descended from the original English settlers who moved to the United States in the late 1700s.
In essence, the last name Whellens is a name that is hundreds of years old, with a rich cultural history. It is a name that signifies a horseman or swift rider, one who had the courage to remain at the back of the pack and protect those in front. It is a name that still stands strong today.
Order DNA origin analysisWhellens: Where does the name Whellens come from?
The last name Whellens is most commonly found today in the Northwestern part of Europe, especially in the Netherlands and France. It is thought to have originated in the Netherlands and spread throughout the region over the years.
It is thought that the Whellens name originally derived from Dutch settlers who settled in the area during the Middle Ages. The name could have originated from the word “wallen”, which means “muddy ridge”. It was quite common for families living on the banks of rivers or near swamps to take on the name.
Today, the last name Whellens is most often seen in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Germany. It is also seen in countries with a large Dutch immigrant population such as United States, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. It is estimated that there are roughly 5,000 people with the Whellens surname across the world.
The last name Whellens is also seen to a lesser degree in parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in the area close to the English Channel. This could either be due to 16th century English- Dutch connections, or simply because the name travelled in more recent times with Dutch immigrants settling in the UK.
In total there are an estimated 5,000 people with the Whellens surname in existence today.
Variations of the surname Whellens
The surname Whellens is derived from the Middle English phrase "whelen," and various spellings of the surname have evolved over the years, including Whelen, Whelan, Whalen, Whalan, Whalin, Whalyn, and Whealon. The surname is most commonly found in Ireland, where it originates from the Irish Gaelic surname "O'Faoilean," meaning "descendant of Faoilean" or "wings." In Scotland, the surname is derived from the Middle Gaelic word "walan," meaning "foreigner." In England, the surname is derived from the Old English phrase "weal," meaning "salty."
In the United States, there are many families of the surname Whellens that have immigrated from Ireland and Scotland. With a large number of immigrants coming from both regions, variations in spellings often occurred as names were written and spoken in the new language.
The surname Whellens has numerous variants, including Whelan, Whealan, Whalen, Whalan, Whalin, and Whealon as well as potentially more uncommon spellings like Walen, Whalyn, Whalay, Walan, Wealen, and Whelon, and could also be altered by the addition of suffixes such as "-son" and "-s". Some less common surnames that may be related include Hallen, Hallan, and Halyn.
Famous people with the name Whellens
- Julius Whellens: is a German international footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club SC Freiburg.
- Stephen Whellens: is a retired English footballer and manager, who last managed Grimsby Town
- Annie Whellens: an Australian diver, who represented Australia in the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Luc Whellens: Belgian professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Antibes Sharks in the French Pro A.
- Eric Whellens: Dutch professional footballer who played most his career for FC Eindhoven and FC Emmen.
- Alexander Whellens: British international rugby union player who is currently a member of the England national team and Harlequins.
- Daniel Whellens: Australian linkman, who has represented his country in the 2017 World Lacrosse Championship
- Robert Whellens: American professional golfer who is a member of the Champions Tour.
- Rosamund Whellens: veteran British actress best known for her role in the long running British sitcom ‘One Foot in the Grave’.
- Jack Whellens: British playwright, screenwriter and director known for the plays ‘Hearts Desire’ and ‘Crooked Riders’ for which he won several awards.