NameCensus.

UK surname

Wheelan

Irish surname derived from Gaelic meaning "calf protector/keeper/breeder".

In the 1881 census there were 269 people recorded with the Wheelan surname, ranking it #10,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 292, ranked #15,022, down from #10,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Bothwell and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ross and Cromarty South West, County Durham and Easterhouse East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wheelan is 338 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.6%.

1881 census count

269

Ranked #10,506

Modern count

292

2016, ranked #15,022

Peak year

1901

338 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wheelan had 269 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 292 in 2016, ranked #15,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 338 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Wheelan surname distribution map

The map shows where the Wheelan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Wheelan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wheelan over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 93 #17,946
1861 historical 156 #14,813
1881 historical 269 #10,506
1891 historical 292 #11,351
1901 historical 338 #10,709
1911 historical 97 #23,076
1997 modern 317 #13,053
1998 modern 324 #13,189
1999 modern 326 #13,238
2000 modern 305 #13,769
2001 modern 293 #13,933
2002 modern 291 #14,275
2003 modern 271 #14,787
2004 modern 280 #14,530
2005 modern 292 #14,072
2006 modern 288 #14,267
2007 modern 288 #14,428
2008 modern 293 #14,364
2009 modern 297 #14,519
2010 modern 298 #14,812
2011 modern 290 #14,933
2012 modern 299 #14,537
2013 modern 306 #14,557
2014 modern 303 #14,733
2015 modern 293 #15,005
2016 modern 292 #15,022

Geography

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Where Wheelans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Bothwell, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Merthyr Tydfil. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ross and Cromarty South West, County Durham, Easterhouse East, Alness and Thrashbush. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Monkland Lanark
2 Bothwell Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ross and Cromarty South West Highland
2 County Durham 018 County Durham
3 Easterhouse East Glasgow City
4 Alness Highland
5 Thrashbush North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wheelan

These lists show first names that appear often with the Wheelan surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wheelan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wheelan, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Wheelan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Wheelan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Wheelan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wheelan is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wheelan falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wheelan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Wheelan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wheelan

The surname WHEELAN has its origins in Ireland, particularly associated with the Gaelic name "Ó Faoláin." "Ó" signifies "descendant of," while "Faoláin" is derived from the ancient Irish word "faol," meaning wolf. This aligns the name with several other Irish surnames that carry animal significance, symbolizing strength and bravery.

WHEELAN is predominantly found in the southeastern region of Ireland, specifically in counties Waterford and Kilkenny. Over time, this surname transformed from Ó Faoláin to more Anglicized forms. The anglicization process, which began in earnest after the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, resulted in variations such as Phelan, Whalen, and Whelan. The version WHEELAN is less common but still a recognized variant.

Early historical records, while sparse, do mention the Whelan clan, signifying their importance in medieval Irish society. Manuscripts from the Irish Annals, historical records from medieval Ireland, frequently mention leaders and landowners with the surname. One of the earliest documented references is to Maurice Ó Faoláin, who is noted in 13th-century records for his role in local chieftaincies in County Waterford.

By the 16th century, the name appeared in English records, often with varied spellings. An example is Richard Whelan, who appears in the Fiants of Queen Elizabeth I, documents which recorded the administration of military and fiscal affairs in Ireland. Richard Whelan is recorded in 1585 in these Fiants, indicating the endurance of the name through tumultuous times in Irish history.

In more modern contexts, several notable individuals with the surname WHEELAN have made their mark. John Whelan, a political figure, born in 1812 and died in 1876, was known for his involvement in the Irish nationalist movement. Another distinguished figure is Charles Whelan, an influential 19th-century Irish-American labor leader born in 1832 and died in 1885, who played a significant role in the trade union movements in New York.

The surname continued to evolve and spread, with Philip Whelan, a playwright and poet born in 1923 and hailed from County Waterford, contributing significantly to Irish literature in the 20th century. Additionally, Patricia Whelan, an academic and historian born in 1948, has been noted for her extensive research on Irish medieval history, further highlighting the surname’s connection to Ireland's academic and cultural heritage.

The WHEELAN surname, tracing its roots back to the Gaelic Ó Faoláin, encapsulates a rich tapestry of Irish history, culture, and transformation through the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wheelan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wheelan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 91 Wheelans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.90x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 91 2.90x
Middlesex 21 0.79x
Yorkshire 18 0.69x
Renfrewshire 13 6.35x
Cheshire 12 2.06x
Lanarkshire 11 1.29x
Monmouthshire 11 5.76x
Northumberland 11 2.80x
West Lothian 11 27.63x
Glamorgan 10 2.17x
Dunbartonshire 8 11.26x
Warwickshire 8 1.20x
Angus 7 2.86x
Kent 6 0.67x
Westmorland 5 8.61x
Worcestershire 5 1.45x
Midlothian 4 1.13x
Cumberland 3 1.32x
Sussex 3 0.67x
Durham 2 0.25x
Staffordshire 2 0.22x
Surrey 2 0.16x
Ayrshire 1 0.51x
Derbyshire 1 0.24x
Gloucestershire 1 0.19x
Hampshire 1 0.18x
Herefordshire 1 0.92x
Isle of Man 1 2.04x
Stirlingshire 1 1.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 14 Wheelans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.35x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 14 7.35x
Salford 13 14.09x
Neilston 10 97.28x
Whitburn 9 156.52x
Birmingham 8 3.60x
Cardross 8 93.79x
Everton 8 8.00x
Oldham 8 7.90x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 10.21x
Cardiff St Mary 7 27.61x
Trevethin 7 38.78x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 12.04x
New Monkland 6 23.74x
Westminster St James 6 22.08x
Blockley 5 256.41x
Horton In Bradford 5 12.22x
Kirkland 5 403.23x
Longbenton 5 30.01x
Lower Booths 5 88.97x
Aberystruth 4 23.74x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 16.39x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 16.06x
Burnley 4 15.14x
Chiswick 4 27.70x
Dukinfield 4 14.83x
Dundee 4 4.37x
Gorton 4 13.56x
Hindley 4 29.92x
Little Bolton 4 9.92x
Newchurch 4 15.59x
Bothwell 3 12.94x
Brighton 3 3.34x
Deptford St Paul 3 4.31x
Edinburgh Old Church 3 105.63x
Egremont 3 55.25x
Gillingham 3 16.13x
Heckmondwike 3 35.59x
Liff Benvie 3 8.07x
Manchester 3 2.13x
Middle Greenock 3 53.67x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 14.71x
St Andrew Holborn 3 33.48x
St Marylebone London 3 2.13x
Stockport 3 9.99x
Bedlington 2 15.23x
Birkenhead 2 4.30x
Clapham 2 6.05x
Heaton Norris 2 11.20x
Linthorpe 2 12.80x
Llanwonno 2 12.09x
Macclesfield 2 7.71x
Bishop Auckland 1 9.48x
Bristol St Stephen 1 74.07x
Burghill 1 81.30x
Edinburgh Old 1 46.51x
Eston 1 17.51x
Farnborough 1 17.57x
Fulham London 1 2.61x
Glossop Dale 1 5.16x
Hackney London 1 0.67x
Islington London 1 0.39x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 47.62x
Maryhill 1 5.97x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 2.26x
Old Cumnock 1 22.68x
Onchan 1 7.07x
Scarborough 1 4.20x
Sheffield 1 1.20x
Shettleston 1 13.07x
Slamannan 1 18.73x
St Pancras London 1 0.47x
Stockton On Tees 1 2.64x
Stone 1 8.76x
Torphichen 1 71.94x
Tranmere 1 4.66x
Uphall 1 22.83x
Walton Le Dale 1 11.86x
Westgate 1 4.11x
Westminster St 1 10.26x
Whittington 1 54.64x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wheelan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 19
Margaret 11
Elizabeth 8
Ellen 8
Bridget 6
Eliza 4
Catherine 3
Jane 3
Julia 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Hannah 2
Johannah 2
Lydia 2
Allan 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Bessy 1
Catharine 1
Celia 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Jnnah 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lavinia 1
Lucy 1
Margrat 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Marianne 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Mgt. 1
Norah 1
Priscilla 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wheelan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 20
James 16
Michael 10
Patrick 10
William 8
Thomas 6
Daniel 4
Edward 4
Joseph 2
Stephen 2
Timothy 2
Andrew 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Denis 1
Edwin 1
George 1
Jeremiah 1
Jos. 1
Keyren 1
Lawrence 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Nicholas 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Tim. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Wheelan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wheelan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 269 people were recorded with the Wheelan surname. That placed it at #10,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wheelan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 292 in 2016. That gives Wheelan a modern rank of #15,022.

What does the Wheelan surname mean?

Irish surname derived from Gaelic meaning "calf protector/keeper/breeder".

What does the Wheelan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wheelan bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.