WEATHERLY
Weatherly
Weatherly is a surname of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "wether" meaning sheep and "leah" meaning woodland clearing. The surname is therefore thought to have originally referred to someone who lived in or near a clearing where sheep grazed.
History and Distribution
The surname Weatherly has been recorded in England since medieval times, with various spellings including Wetherley, Witherly, and Wetherly. It is especially prevalent in the southern counties of England, such as Hampshire, Sussex, and Surrey.
Notable People
- Frederic Weatherly (1848-1929): A prolific English songwriter, author, and barrister. He is best known for writing the lyrics to the song "Danny Boy."
- Admiral Ben Weatherly (1910-1995): A distinguished British naval officer who served in World War II and later became the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.
Cultural References
The surname Weatherly has been preserved in various forms of media and literature, cementing its place in British cultural history.
Variant Spellings
The surname Weatherly may also be found recorded as Weatherley, Wetherly, Witherly, and Wetherley, reflecting the phonetic variations that have occurred over time.
In conclusion, the surname Weatherly is a quintessentially English name with a long history and a strong presence in various aspects of British culture.
There are approximately 401 people named Weatherly in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around six in a million people in Britain are named Weatherly.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- Brian
- Daniel
- David
- John
- Marc
- Matthew
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
- Steven
Female
- Angela
- Cheryl
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Gillian
- Helen
- Janice
- Jennifer
- Karen
- Patricia
- Rachel
- Sheila
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Weather
- Weatherall
- Weatherby
- Watherly
- Weatheral
- Weatherell
- Weatheril
- Weatherill
- Weatherilt
- Weatherlake
- Weatherley
- Weatherlt
- Wetheral
- Wetherel
- Wetheril
- Wetherilt
- Wetherley
- Wetherly
- Wethorell
- Wheatherley
- Wheatherly
- Whetherley
- Whetherly
- Whitherly
- Witherly
- Waterley
- Watherall
- Weatherald
- Weatherelt
- Weatherhall
- Weatherhill
- Weathers
- Wether
- Wetherall
- Wetherell
- Wetherill
- Wheather
- Whetherall
- Whetherel
- Whetherill
- Witherley
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.