Surname Whellour - Meaning and Origin

Whellour: What does the surname Whellour mean?

The last name Whellour is of English origin, and it appears to have been derived from the Old French term 'Welhur', meaning 'hunt or seeker'. This in turn could be an adaptation of the word 'wele', which meant 'a hunt or game'. In this way, the original bearers of the name were likely to have been hunters or those who were associated with the hunting profession in some capacity.

The earliest record of this surname appeared as 'Wheelour' in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327. From there, various variant spellings emerged, including Whelour, Wheleyour, and Whellour. Later family historians believe the surname has roots in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, where the spelling variations were most frequent.

The Whellour name has always been associated with being a hunter or seeker of some sort; historically these were people who spent their lives hunting for game such as deer in the forests of England. As such, the name has come to symbolise tenacity, courage, and perseverance, traits which were necessary for early hunters.

Today, the family name is found throughout the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia. While the hallmark traits associated with the name continue to exist, the modern Whellour name is no longer as closely associated with hunting as it once was. Today, the Whellour family can be found in many areas of life, including law, the military, engineering, and the medical profession, among others.

Whellour: Where does the name Whellour come from?

The last name Whellour can be found today in several countries, though in some cases the spelling has evolved. In the United States, the surname Whellour is commonly found in areas such as Texas, Virginia, Oregon, and Washington. Whellour is also a variant of the surname Weller, and this spelling can be found in several other countries, most commonly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, and Canada.

Whellour is an English patronymic surname derived from "Walter," a name first used in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The use of patronymic surnames began before the Norman Conquest, and it was a way of distinguishing between families with the same common names. Some spellings of the surname, such as Whelor, Whelan, Wellen, and Whelan, have evolved over time.

In Scotland, the Whellour surname is found most often in the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire areas. In Ireland, the Whellour name is found in both the north and south of the country.

In Australia, the Whellour surname is found in the states of New South Wales and Queensland, and in New Zealand it is found mainly in the north of the country. Other countries that have Whellour families include South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The Whellour surname is fairly common, with many families bearing this name scattered across much of the English-speaking, and even some non-English-speaking, world.

Variations of the surname Whellour

The variants, spellings and surnames for the Whellour surname include Whallour, Whellery, Wheller, Wheeliery, Whelloury, Wellori, Wallor, Wallori, Waller, Wallery, Walloury, Walloure, and Weller.

The origin of the surname generally is said to come from a place-name such as Wittensellower or Whiterrelow. These names were derived from elements often found in British place-names, such as welle, meaning "stream", and herla, meaning "army". Alternatively, it could be a derivation of the Welsh name Gwilorn, which was used in Wales as a personal name as well as for place names.

The surname of Whellour is a unique one, with a scattering of occurrences since the 14th century. Its use appears to have been mainly in south and central England, around Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Gloucestershire, and down into the southwest of England, mainly Devon and Cornwall. Occurrences can also be found in Ireland, from as early as the 16th century.

Variants of the surname have been retained in different regions, with Waller, Weller and Wallour being used in the west, Whellery in the midlands and Whelloury in the east. Here, the use of double letters in names, such as "ll" and "ou", was common which could account for some of the variation.

The name Whellour is still a relatively uncommon one, although it has seen a slight growth in popularity, likely due to the reintroduction of old and rare names. It is likely to have many more variants due to the spelling variations and migrations of its successive generations.

Famous people with the name Whellour

• Kevin Whellour: former professional Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood and the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).
• Joshua Whellour: an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bradford City.
• Patrice Dragonas Whellour: a third-generation African-American business leader who serves on the United Nations Global Compact.
• Vincent Whellour: an American actor and theater director who has appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway, in independent films, and in television.
• Leah Whellour: a British actor and musician best known for her role in the movie The Two Popes.
• Florence Whellour: a British stage and television actress who has appeared in a variety of roles, from period dramas to contemporary comedies.
• John Whellour: former English professional footballer who played for Everton and Wigan Athletic in the English Football League.
• Isabella Whellour: a British fashion designer who has been hailed as one of the new generation of British fashion heroes.
• Caroline Whellour: an American actress best known for starring in the hit TV show Castle.
• David Whellour: an American film and television composer whose credits include such popular projects as House of Cards and The X-Files.

Other surnames

Whellock