Waeland

Recorded in several spellings including Wayland, Waylen, Waeland, Weyland, and Welland, this is an English locational surname from Welland, a parish in Worcestershire. This place name is believed to originate from an Anglo-Saxon pre 8th century personal name derived from "wig", meaning war, and "landa", a territory. In the original spelling of Wieland or Weiland we have a name from a German folk legend, borne by a supernaturally skilled smith, the original "Superman" of his day, so it is reasonable to suppose that occasionally "Weiland" could used as a nickname for a smith. Early examples of the surname recording taken from authentic charters and church regisaters include Richard de Weyland of Suffolk, Rither de Weylaund of Yorkshire, and Hubert de Wayeland, also of Suffolk, in the Hundred rolls of the year 1273. Later examples include Mark Weyland, who married Mary Underwood at St James church, Clerkenwell, in 1669, and Thomas Welland, who married Alice Peach at St. George's Church, Hanover Square, London, in 1780. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Welond, which was dated 1273, the Hundred Rolls, Gloucestershire, during the reign of King Edward 1st, known as "The Hammer of the Scots," 1272 - 1307.