SURNAMES BEGINNING WITH "W"

[Wagner], [Wainwright], [Wakeman], [Wald], [Walker], [Wallace], [Waller], [Walley], [Walsh], [Walters], [Walton], [Ward], [Warden], [Warren], [Waterhouse], [Waterman], [Waters], [Watkins], [Wath], [Watts], [Wayne], [Weald], [Weaver], [Webber], [Webster], [Weiss], [Weston], [Whaley], [Whalley], [Wheeler], [Whelan], [Whitcombe], [White], [Whitehead], [Whitmore], [Whittaker], [Whittle], [Wicks], [Wilcox], [Wild], [Willets], [Williams], [Wilson], [Wilton], [Witten], [Woodford], [Woods], [Woodward], [Worth], [Worthington], [Wray], [Wren], [Wright], [Wulf], [Wyatt], [Wynne]

WAGNER - A German name or title denoting a "Wagon Driver" or "Maker" which has been adopted as a family name. It remains principally a foreign surname rather than an English one.

WAINWRIGHT - Originating from an occupational title for a builder or repairer of wagons.

WAKEMAN - The family name is thought to originate from an early occupational title for a night watchman or guard whose job was to alert people in the event of an emergency.

WALD - This 4 letter German word, which is often used as a modern day surname suffix means or relates to "Woods". Eg: Oswald. Alternatively, the word is also said to represent a "Ruler", as in the case of the surname Arnold which has been corrupted from its original form of "Arnwald".

WALKER - People called "Walkers" were said to have been employed within the early cloth industry, undertaking a similar task as their workmates, the FULLERS, which may be one possible source for the later family name. Individuals called "walkers" were also thought to have travelled from town to town with the bears and bulls which were commonly used as "bait" animals which would be attacked by the local traders dogs, purely as a public spectacle and for the crowds entertainment.

WALLACE - The origins of the name are thought to stem from a similar root as that of Welsh and Walsh, deriving from the word Anglo Saxon "Wealas" meaning "stranger".

WALLER - Commonly thought to have a common origin with Walls and Whaller, and perhaps an occupational name for the individuals who built and maintained town and/or enclosure walls.

WALLEY - A place called Whalley was known to have existed in 798AD and perhaps one is the origin of the other. Alternatively, either name might reflect a contraction of a place called Walter's Lea or Ley meaning a clearing.

WALSH - Thought to have a common foundation with Wallace (shown above), Welsh and Welch, being derived from the Anglo Saxon word "Wealas" meaning "stranger". In the Irish/Gaelic language the family name Walsh is said to be derived from the word "Breathnach" meaning a Welshman.

WALTERS - A common derivation of "Walter's son" which has been contracted to its present form. The name Walter is thought to have arrived in Britain with the Norman army of William the Conqueror. A French knight called Walter de Gherbod is reported to have been appointed as the 1st Norman Earl of Chester in around 1070. The forename Walter is thought to originate from the German words "Wald meaning "Ruler" and "Heri" meaning "Warrior,"

WALTON - In its earliest form the name would have identified a walled settlement and the name has attached itself to both the place (as in Liverpool) and to some of those that lived there

WARD - In an Irish context, this family name is thought to originate from the word "bhaird" used to identify a "Bard", a speaker or spokesman.

WARDEN - Although the Romans had their own word for Wardens or Guardians (Custos) the post that later became a surname almost certainly relates to those "charged with protecting" the "wards" of a castle or defensive enclosure. The separation and identification of individual areas of a settlement, building, etc seems to have been carried forward to the modern day with electoral wards, etc. It is also worth noting that "Wardens" or "Guardians" are still employed today to watch over and protect public buildings and local areas or spaces.

WARREN - The name is thought to originate from the German name "Warin" which was brought to Britain with the forces of William the Conqueror in the 11th Century. Closely associated with the hunting of wild game by medieval noblemen and royalty. The associated name WARRENER was said to be an occupational title for a man responsible for protecting rabbits, hares and other small game which lived on the landowners estate from illegal poaching.

WATERHOUSE - Identified with a specific geographical location, which has attached itself to one or more individuals who lived there.

WATERMAN - An occupational title which was thought to have attached itself to those who were employed "on the water", typically boatmen, etc.

WATERS - There are 2 possible sources for the family name. The first suggested source is from people who were closely associated with a body of water, eg: river, stream or lake and who became so closely connected with their location that the placename attached itself to them. The second possible source is as a contracted form of the forename Walter which has been contracted and had the second "s" added to reflect the relationship between father and son.

WATKINS - The suffix "kin" is thought to represent the early word "kinsman" and a first name Watt or Wyatt was thought to be commonplace  version of Walter during the medieval period. Therefore "Watt's kinsmen" would appear to be a possible origin for this particular surname. The addition of the final "s" might also suggest that "Watkin" was being used as a first name and recognises the link between father and son. Variations would include Watkinson  

WATH - This surname suffix is said to be derived from the Viking word meaning "ford" or a shallow river crossing.

WATTS - Further confirmation that Watt and Wyatt were commonly used as first names by individual men, as a contracted form of Walter possibly and the addition of the "s" signifies the relationship between father and son. Variants include Watson

WAYNE - The name is thought to originate from the word "Wain" which identified a cart or wagon, which would suggest that family names such as "Wainwright" had a common root with Cartwrights.

WEALD - Thought to have its origins in the Anglo Saxon language and be a similar derivation to the similar sounding "WALD" which is shown above.

WEAVER - Employed within the Wool industries and probably known from the earliest times. The act of physically "weaving" individual strands of materials together, no doubt accounts for the root of the name, which was adopted by and associated with those individuals employed in that craft. The early Anglo Saxon word "Wefan" is thought to be the root of the modern day surname.

WEBBER - Originating from the German word "Weber" meaning "Weaver" it possibly came to Britain with European migrants or invaders and has been slightly adapted to a much more anglicized form.

WEBSTER - The family name is thought to be a variation of Webber which is shown above.

WEISS - The German word for "White" and possible foundation for the English word, having been brought to Britain with foreign migrants or invaders.

WELLS - The name would almost certainly have its origins in the word "Wella" which identified a spring or fresh water source and became associated with those individuals who maintained the well or who lived nearby. Variations include Weller, Wellings, etc

WESTON - The Anglo Saxon suffix "ton" is thought to denote a protected homestead or enclosure and the surname may simply originate from a the identification of a local site eg: the West Ton by those living within a particular geographical area.

WHALEY - Perhaps has similar origins to the name "Walley" which is shown above.

WHALLEY - A place with this name was recorded in 798AD.

WHEELER - An occupational title for a "wheelwright", who manufactured and repaired wooden wagon wheels.

WHELAN - As an Irish family name, it is thought to originate from the Gaelic word/name "Faolain" which refers to something or someone that is associated with the "wolf".

WHITCOMBE - The literal meaning of the surname is thought to be "white valley" which has become associated with the people who lived there. Derived from "Whit" for "white"and "Combe" denoting a "small valley".

WHITE - Along with the use of other popular colours as family names, its origins may well be found in the physical characteristics of their early ancestors, where say a blonde male, fair skinned male might be called "the white" because of his colouring. Alternatively, the designation might simply reflect an individuals dress or heraldic arms.

WHITEHEAD - A descriptive term which attached itself to either a young man with almost white blonde hair, or to an elderly man whose hair was white with age. Derived from the word "Whit" meaning white and "Heved" meaning head.

WHITMORE - The prefix "Whit" is likely to originate from the word white and "more" from the word "mor" indicating an area of open scrub or dry grassland. As was common at the time, it's likely that the geographic location became associated with those people who lived there.

WHITTAKER - The modern family name may well derive from the early English word "Whit" which denoted something that was White in colour and "Aker", the root for our modern word "Acre", which is a foundation for the surname ACKERMAN and an early title for a ploughman.

WHITTLE - Thought to be derived from a place name which was prefixed "Whit" or White eg: White Hill or Hall. Whitchurch in Shropshire is thought to be named after the location of a White Church.

WICKS - Thought to have been adopted from the Old English word "wick", "wich" or "wic" which was said to denote a "farm" or "homestead". However, the suffix "wich" has also become synonymous with settlements which produced salt.

WILCOX - The "Wil" prefix is thought to reflect a contracted version of Will or William and it is suggested that the "Cox" suffix identifies a young man.

WILD - Commonly thought to reflect a savage or uncivilized person, place or behaviour, it has been speculated that the designation was generally attached to people who lived outside of so-called civilized society

WILLETS - Yet another name which is likely to have its early foundations in the first name William or its contracted form "Will"

WILLIAMS - Although commonly used as a first name, notably after the Norman Conquest of Britain its later use as a family name is derived from the identification of father and son ie: William's son = Williams. Variations include Williamson. The root of the early first name is thought to be from the German forename Wilhelm, which is a combination of the words "will and "helmet,"

WILSON - Possibly another variation of William's son, but in a very much contracted form. Will's son became Wilson.

WILTON - Thought to be a place name from before 823AD, when a battle was fought there between the armies of two rival Anglo Saxon monarchs, King Egbert and King Bernwulf. The place name itself may have received its name from the forename William aka "Will" who owned an enclosure or "Tun" which became associated with him and his neighbours.

WITTEN - Possible originating from "WITAN" the Danish word for Council or perhaps more likely from a combination of the word "Whit" meaning white and "Tun" indicating an enclosure.

WOODFORD - A river crossing or "Ford" which was located in or near a "Wood" is the most likely origins for the name.

WOODS - Thought to derive from the word "Wudda" identifying a forest or large stand of trees.

WOODWARD - Thought to have its origins in the hunting of game by Norman Earls and Monarchs

WORTH - Thought to originate from the Old English word meaning "fenced land" or "enclosure".

WORTHINGTON - The Anglo Saxon suffix "ton" is thought to denote a protected homestead, farm or enclosure.

WRAY - This surname or suffix is said to have its origins in the Viking word meaning "remote place"

WREN - Although commonly associated with a bird species, one source for the surname may be the Welsh/Celtic word meaning "ruler".

WRIGHT - Another historic name for a "maker" or "manufacturer" of a particular component or product eg: Shipwright, Cartwright, etc

WULF - Commonly regarded as an Anglo Saxon prefix or suffix eg Wulfhere

WYATT - Possibly a variation of the early first name Watt which has become attached to the family.

WYNNE - Thought to denote a person of "fair complexion"

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