Surname Wheelan - Meaning and Origin
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Wheelan: What does the surname Wheelan mean?
The surname Wheelan has an Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Ó hUileáin, meaning "descendant of Uileán". Uileán was an Ancient Irish personal name, meaning ‘little deer’.
Wheelan is an uncommonly found name in Ireland, with records of its presence there from the early 19th century. It became well-established in the South of Ireland, particularly in counties Cork and Tipperary.
The Wheelan family originally held a noted ancestory during the Medieval period, with considerable land and prestige. This was later lost as successive branches of the family emigrated to the US and beyond, becoming more widely dispersed around the world.
The spelling of the name has also varied throughout the years, with Weissman, Wheelen, Weilen and Weylan just a few of the names which have derived from Wheelan.
Today the name Wheelan is to be found in both the US and England, although by far the greatest number are still located in Ireland. Those bearing the name often come from proud and ancient noble ancestry with a rich history in the countries and regions to which they trace their origin.
Order DNA origin analysisWheelan: Where does the name Wheelan come from?
The surname Wheelan is most commonly found in the United States and Canada in the present day. According to Forebears, over 1,200 people in the United States and Canada hold this surname. The United States has the greatest concentration of Wheelans—over 1,100—while only a hundred Canadians claim the surname. The majority of those bearing the Wheelan surname can be found in the United States on the eastern coast, with significant numbers in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. This may be due to the large Irish population in the area, as Wheelan is derived from the Anglicized Irish surname O'Faoileáin, which translates to “descendants of Faolán”—a personal name meaning “wolf.” Wheelan is an uncommon surname in other countries; it is rarely found in the United Kingdom or Ireland.
Furthermore, the number of Wheelans bearing the surname is on the decline in the United States, with a -3.68% change in name density since the year 2000. This phenomenon is likely due to an increase in intermarriage, immigration, and assimilation, and the consequent decrease of unique surnames in the United States.
Variations of the surname Wheelan
The surname Wheelan is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic phrase “O’Niallain” which is composed of two separate elements. The first element, “O”, is a prefix meaning “grandson” or “descendant” and the second element, “Niallain”, refers to the Irish male name “Niall”. This name has a long and varied history in Ireland and has been Anglicized in various ways over the centuries.
The variants and spellings of the surname Wheelan include Whealan, Whealen, Wheeling, Whelan, Whalen, O’Niallain and O’Whelan. All of these names have the same Gaelic origins but have been adapted through cultural usage, linguistic changes, and immigration to other countries.
In Scotland, the name wheelan is further Anglicized to become “Welsham” which may also be used as a surname. Likewise, in England and America the name became known as “Wheeler”, “Wheeler,” or “Wheelwright”.
Surnames originating from the same origin can also be found in other countries such as Canada, Australia, and Germany. In Canada, the name is often seen as “Whalen” or “Whelan”. In Australia, the name is “Whelan” or “Whealen” while in Germany it is “Niall” or “Weling”. All of these names have the same Gaelic origin and are derived from the surname Wheelan.
Overall, the surname Wheelan has had many variants, spellings, and surnames which can all be traced back to the same origin. Each of these variations has had its own unique adaptations and linguistic modifications over time, providing an expanded family tree for those looking to trace their ancestry.
Famous people with the name Wheelan
- Michael Wheelan: Irish actor and comedian.
- Melinda Wheelan: Canadian singer-songwriter.
- Charlie Wheelan: American economist and author.
- Matthias Wheelan: German photographer.
- Kim Wheelan: British singer-songwriter and actor.
- Jeffrey Wheelan: British theatre director and actor.
- Leah Wheelan: Australian murder victim from the Wheelan murder case in 1998.
- Hal Wheelan: American comedian and writer.
- John Wheelan: Canadian politician and member of Legislative Assembly of Alberta.
- Katrina Wheelan: British health and lifestyle blogger.