Surname Wetherington - Meaning and Origin

Wetherington: What does the surname Wetherington mean?

The surname Wetherington is believed to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, originating from England. It is a toponymic surname, meaning it is derived from a geographical location. The name is believed to be based on a place called Wetherington, however, no such locality appears to exist in present-day England. This suggests that the place may have been a small hamlet or village that has since been lost or absorbed by larger surrounding towns or cities over centuries. The name could possibly be derived from the Old English words "wether" meaning a male sheep and "ing" a suffix meaning "people of" or "dwellers at", combined with "ton" meaning a town or enclosure. Therefore, the name could represent 'the town of the sheep people.' Surnames of this nature were often given to the lord of the manor and his descendants or to individuals who moved from the place to somewhere else, as a means to identify them. Variations of the name include Witherington and Wetherinton.

Wetherington: Where does the name Wetherington come from?

The last name Wetherington is common today mostly in the United Kingdom as well as in many former British colonies. Its origin can be traced back to Britain where the name was derived from the Old English words wether (sheep) and ing (meadow), likely referencing the occupation of sheep herding.

The last name still carries potential distantly related ties to Scotland as well as England and has spread in popularity throughout English speaking countries throughout the centuries. In the 19th century, many of the Wetheringtons emigrated to Canada, Australia, and the United States, so the name may still be seen in those countries today (particularly in the United States).

The last name continues to be fairly common today, generally being associated with the middle-class but not being overly common and likely seen by most people only occasionally. Wetherington can now be found in many places around the globe, likely due to old-world emigration and the spread of English colonization around the world.

Variations of the surname Wetherington

Variants of the surname Wetherington include Wetherinton, Wetherinton, Wheddington, Wiggington, Whitherington, and other phonetically similar variants.

Spellings of the surname Wetherington vary from country to country. In America, the most common alternative spellings include Weatherington, Wetherinton, Weddington, Widdington, Wiggington, Widgington, Whatherington and Wheterington. In England, common alternative spellings include Wetherwington, Wetherdington, Wiggington, Witherington, and WhYtherington.

Surnames of the same origin as Wetherington include Wedderington, Whittington, Weddington, Weathington, Witherington, and Waddington.

Wetherington is an English surname which was probably originally derived from a place name, likely referring to a settlement near a wether (sheep) pen. The first record of the surname appears during the 12th century, when a man named William de Wdarinton was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Wiltshire in 1166.

Famous people with the name Wetherington

• Alan Wetherington: US Nordic Skier and first American to leave his mark on the World Cup Nordic Combined by finishing third at the 1992 World Championships.
• Blake Wetherington: American television producer, stunt performer, and extreme sports enthusiast. He has appeared as a stunt double for a variety of television shows and movies, including Battleship and The Lord of the Rings.
• Brad Wetherington: Former track and field All-American and NCAA champion from Stanford University.
• Charlotte Wetherington: First female Distinguished Flying Cross recipient from World War II.
• Harry Wetherington: British hairdresser, who was best known for creating and styling the iconic hairstyle for singers such as Madonna and Gwen Stefani.
• Layla Wetherington: Australian fashion model, best known for walking in the 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
• Mike Wetherington: American country music singer and songwriter, known for his smooth baritone vocals and heartfelt songs.
• Nancy Wetherington: British film and television actress, best known for her roles in the 1982 romantic comedy My Favorite Year and the TV series Diagnosis: Murder.
• Ralph Wetherington: American modernist sculptor and architect, best known for his large-scale public works.
• Rebecca Wetherington: British darts player, who won the 2017 UK Open Darts Championship.

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