Surname Welles - Meaning and Origin
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Welles: What does the surname Welles mean?
The surname Welles is of Anglo-Saxon origin and primarily used in English-speaking countries. It is a topographic surname derived from the Old English term "wella" or "well(a)", which means spring or stream. Therefore, it was initially used to denote a person who lived near a spring or stream. The name eventually evolved to "Welles", as surnames often underwent spelling changes over centuries due to factors like social and regional dialects and the passage of time. Examples of these evolutions include names such as Well, Wells, Wellman, among others. It is important to remember that these interpretations may not hold for every bearer of the last name, as variations and different origins are possible. Notable people with the surname Welles include Orson Welles, the acclaimed American director, writer, and actor, and Sumner Welles, a high-ranking U.S. diplomat during the Second World War.
Order DNA origin analysisWelles: Where does the name Welles come from?
The last name Welles is most common today in the United States. According to the 2010 US Census, Welles is the 883rd most common last name in the country and ranks in the top 12% of all surnames. It has a population of an estimated 21,297 people bearing the surname.
In England, Welles is much rarer, ranking at 24,094 out of 32,000 registered last names. The greatest concentration of Welles occur in the counties of Essex and Hertfordshire.
The origin of the Welles surname is thought to derive from the ancient Saxon people who lived in the British Isles as far back as the 5th century AD. Ancestors probably used a place name suffix, such as "weald" for forested areas, or "well" for locations with a spring or pool of water, as a family identifier.
As an Americanized version of its English origin, the Welles name is associated with many prominent figures. Novelist and filmmaker Orson Welles is perhaps the most renowned, but individuals with the Welles name have excelled in many fields. Astronauts, military officers, athletes, and business leaders are among the many notable holders of the Welles name.
Variations of the surname Welles
The surname Welles is an English surname which comes from the Old English words ‘waella’ meaning ‘stream’ or ‘spring’ and ‘waell’ meaning ‘stream’ or ‘rushing water’. The surname can be found in records as far back as the 13th century in England, and variants of the name include Wells, Well, Walles, Walls and Wallis.
Wells is the most common variant of the name, and can be found throughout England. It is one of the most frequently used surnames in the United States. Wells is the predominant spelling in the United States, with Welles appearing more often in England. Wells is also the variant of the name found in Australia and New Zealand.
Variants of the name Walles include Wallis, Walls and Walles. Wallis is found mostly in America while Walls is most often seen in the United Kingdom. The surname Walles is a variant of both Wells and Wallis and is found mostly in England but is also common in parts of the United States.
Other variants of the name include Welle, Weles, Wellese, Welz, Wastes, Wasson, Gwells, Welsch, Wellsman, Weyles, Welchman, Wellens, Hellerich, Weil, Wellemeyer, Whale and Welker.
Overall, this surname has numerousspellings, variants and surnames of the same origin. It is a name of English origin which has spread around the world and become firmly embedded in many family trees.
Famous people with the name Welles
- Orson Welles: American actor, director, writer and producer most famous for his film Citizen Kane (1941).
- Christopher Welles Feder: American singer, graphic designer, and daughter of Orson Welles and Paola Mori.
- Beatrice Welles: American writer, lawyer, and daughter of Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth.
- Winstein Welles: American actor and son of Orson Welles and Paola Mori.
- Rebecca Welles Manning: American journalist and daughter of Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth.
- Joe Welles: American film director and son of Orson Welles and Oja Kodar.
- Richard Welles: American painter, son of Orson Welles and Oja Kodar.
- Meahwah Welles: American producer and daughter of Orson Welles and Oja Kodar.
- Richard Dreyfuss: American actor and star of the 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, who has the middle name Welles.
- Paul Welles: American actor, best known for his role in the Mel Brooks movie High Anxiety.