Surname Welby - Meaning and Origin
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Welby: What does the surname Welby mean?
The last name Welby is of English origin and is believed to have descended from a number of unrelated originating families. It is thought that the name most likely derived from a place name such as Welleby in Lincolnshire, Welby in St Albans or Welby in Nottinghamshire.
The first use of the surname Welby is recorded in the 12th century. In 1177, Adam de Welby is listed as holding lands in Lincolnshire. The spelling of the name is believed to have evolved in both England and Scotland over time although the spelling of Welby appears to be the most common even today.
The Welby coat of arms consists of a blue shield with a black lion rampant. The crest of the Welby family consists of an eagle's head with three bells in its mouth holding a cross between its talons. This crest may infer a relationship to the original surnames of parent families, such as Bell or Cross, otherwise the crest may be a reference to spiritual strength, faith or bravery.
Regardless of the origin of the name, the Welbys can take pride in their lineage being one of the most influential families in England and Scotland throughout history. A number of the surname have gone on to achieve success in both business and politics, with various members of the surname holding roles within government and the Royal Navy during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWelby: Where does the name Welby come from?
The last name Welby is most commonly found in English-speaking countries, though it is also present in other parts of the world. In the United Kingdom, the Welby name is especially common in the North West region, particularly around Lancashire. Deriving from Old English, Welby is a habitational surname associated with the village of Welby in Norfolk. The area has been home to a settlement since the 8th century.
In the United States, the Welby surname is most common in Massachusetts, though records indicate that the family has resided in many parts of the country since the first settlers arrived. The Welby family has some particularly distinguished members, including the Reverend Sir George Henry Welby, the 14th Baronet of the Welby family, who served as Chaplain to Queen Victoria.
In Australia, there are records indicating the family was present in Tasmania as early as 1841, and later in the Australian states of New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland. The first notable member of the Australian Welby family was Sir Edmund Thomas Welby, who was knighted in 1897 and served as Attorney General of New South Wales.
As one of the oldest surnames in England, and the name of a real-world family of nobility and public service, the Welby name is still common today across the British Isles and in many other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Welby
The surname Welby is a variation of the English surname Welbey. Welbey originated from the northern English place name Welby, which is derived from the Old English words “welg” and “by”, meaning “estuary” and “settlement” respectively. The most common variants of the surname are Welbi, Welbie, Welbee, Wulby and Wolby. There are numerous spellings of Welby, as documented by the 1881 UK census. Some of these variants include Whelby, Whealby, Wholby, Whelbey, Walby, Wallby and Whealbey.
Other related surnames include Wolbey, Wellby, Wollby, Welbay, Waleby, Welbie, Wuleby and Welley. Some of these surnames derive from similar locations in other parts of the UK and some from similar surnames derived from different countries.
Moreover, some of the variants of Welby are now used as given names, such as Wilby, Wilbee and Welbie.
In summary, variations of the surname Welby could include Welbi, Welbie, Welbee, Wulby, Wolby, Whelby, Whealby, Wholby, Whelbey, Walby, Wallby, Whealbey, Wolbey, Wellby, Wollby, Welbay, Waleby, Welbie, Wuleby, Welley, Wilby, Wilbee and Welbie.
Famous people with the name Welby
- Marcus Welby: Marcus Welby, M.D. was an American medical drama television series that aired Tuesdays at 10:00 pm (EST) on ABC from September 23, 1969, to July 29, 1976. The show was produced by David Victor and Douglas S. Cramer and was created by author and senior medical student Edwin Hawkins.
- Donald Welby: Donald Welby, Baron Welby (born 14 March 1929), is a British Conservative Party politician, accountant and Chartered Director.
- Baron Welby of Caister: Baron Welby of Caister in the County of Norfolk is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1907 for the politician and businessman Frederick Welby.
- Bishop Michael Welby: Michael Welby, Bishop of Northumberland, is the 9th Bishop of Northumberland and has been since 2014.
- Tracey Welsby: Tracey Welsby is an English film and television actress. She is known for her roles in the ITV1 drama series Doc Martin, Casualty, Waking the Dead and Vincent.
- Edward Welby Pugin: Edward Welby Pugin was an English Gothic Revival architect, designer, artist and critic. He was the son of the architect Augustus Pugin and Catherine Welby.
- Welby Ings: Welby Ings is a New Zealand artist and academic whose artworks draw on a range of disciplines, including theatre, dance, photography, and painting.
- Edward Welby Pugin: Edward Welby Pugin was an English Gothic Revival architect, designer, artist and critic. He was the son of the architect Augustus Pugin and Catherine Welby.