The Whelan Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Whelan, its origins in Ireland, and the story behind a Whelan family crest.
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Origin of the Whelan name
Whelan comes from Ó Faoláin, "descendant of Faolán", a diminutive of faol, "wolf". Before the Norman invasion the O'Faolains were princes of the Déise, in what is now County Waterford. Whelan is now especially common in Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford and Laois, and Phelan is another anglicized form of the same Irish name.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Whelan name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Whelan name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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The complete Whelan pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Whelan name FAQ
What does the Whelan name mean?
Descendant of Faolán ("little wolf"). Common variants include Phelan, Whalen, O'Whelan.
Where does the Whelan surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Whelan coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Whelan crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Whelan coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).