Surname Whorley - Meaning and Origin

Whorley: What does the surname Whorley mean?

The surname Whorley is an English locational name believed to originate from Whorlton, a village whose first recorded spelling in the 11th century was 'Werlintone'. It is likely that the place name derives from the Old English 'weorn', meaning 'a place where the corn was winnowed' and 'tun', meaning 'enclosure' or 'settlement.'

The name Whorley therefore has the meaning 'the settlement near winnowing ground'. In the Middle English era, the term ‘winnowing’ was a farming term which referred to the process of separating the lighter husks or chaff from the heavier grains of wheat or barley by tossing them up with a fork or winnowing fan. By the 12th century as many as 7 different variations of the name had emerged such as Whorlly, Whorle, Whoreley, Whorely and Whorly.

The surname may have initially been used to identify people from the hamlet of Whorlton or to indicate someone who now lived at a distant location but originated from it. Over time, the surname has spread throughout the United Kingdom, with particularly high numbers in the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Bedfordshire, Sussex, Lancashire, Somerset and Staffordshire.

Today, the Whorley family name has lost its geographical links, and today simply serves to remind us of our location and roots.

Whorley: Where does the name Whorley come from?

The last name Whorley is believed to be of English or Scottish origin. It is an occupational name referring to a person who worked as a wire-drawer or weaver. It is a common surname today, particularly throughout England and Scotland, as well as some other parts of the UK such as Ireland.

Today, the last name Whorley is most common in Scotland, England, and Wales. The high concentration of the name in Scotland is due largely to the immigration of Scots to England and Ireland in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is estimated that there are more than 11,000 people in the UK with the last name Whorley.

The name can also be found in Canada, Australia, and the United States. It is thought that the spelling of the name varied over time, giving rise to other forms such as Worley, Wordley, and even Horly.

The Whorley surname is also found in other parts of the world. It has been recorded in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. In the United States, there are people with this name living in states all over the country, with the largest concentrations being in California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Variations of the surname Whorley

The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Whorley include Worley, Whorly, Worly, and Worlie.

Originally recorded as Whorley or Worley, this surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin. During the medieval period when people had a fixed view of their social class and a sense of loyalty to their Lord, surnames first became fixed. It was in the 13th Century in England that names of people began to be more firmly fixed.

The origin of the name Whorley is believed to be from the Old English word 'war', meaning battle. Early recordings of the surname include Willielmo Werlegh in the Hundred Rolls for the County of Northampton in 1273, while Richard Worley appears in the Sussex Poll Tax of 1296. A Thomas Whorley was recorded in County Shropshire as early as 1559.

In some cases, the surname may have derived from the place name 'Werley' in county Shropshire. This place name is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Werlege, and derives from 'waelle', meaning a 'spring', plus the ‘ley’, an enclosure of land. The spelling as recorded in the Domesday Book also indicates a link to the personal name 'Werla', which is of Old English origins.

Today, the surname Whorley is typically found in the British Isles and North America, with variants found across the world, including Worley, Whorly, Worly, and Worlie.

Famous people with the name Whorley

• Randy Whorley: Retired Major League Baseball pitcher
• Kyle Whorley: Professional wakeboarder who also starred in several movies and tv shows
• Mary Alice Whorley: American politician who served in the Maryland House of Delegates
• Daniel Whorley: Actor and filmmaker
• Steve Whorley: American artist, illustrator, and graphic designer
• Pilgrim James Whorley: American solder in World War I
• Menalcus Lankford Whorley: Confederate soldier during the American Civil War
• Jessie Whorley: Captain of the United Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions in 2010
• Illean Whorley: Singer-songwriter, musician, and local radio personality in Atlanta
• Jeff Whorley: Street Artist known for creating large-scale murals

Other surnames

Whorlton