Wells Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Wells Name Meaning: From the Old English "well", meaning stream or spring.

From the Old English \"well\", the name was given to someone who lived near a stream or spring.

Discover how your Wells ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Wells Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Wells family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 1,912
Agricultural Labourer 773
House Servant 299
Labourer 248
Servant 177
At Home 165
Dress Maker 144
Farm Labourer 141
Annuitant 103
Laundress 99
Carpenter 88
Shoe Maker 84
General Servant 80
Pauper 79
Tailor 69
Scholar At Home 68
Errand Boy 64
Gardener 64
House Keeper 64
Butcher 51
Frame Work Knitter 45
Nurse 43
House Maid 40
Straw Plaiter 40
Bricklayer 38

Wells Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Wells 100% 171,754
2 Willis 67% 106,940
3 Wills 80% 78,607
4 Wallis 67% 73,315
5 Walls 80% 27,068
6 Willes 67% 9,795
7 Walles 67% 4,645
8 Wellis 83% 2,620
9 Willies 57% 2,051
10 Wallas 67% 1,603
11 Welles 83% 1,413
12 Woolls 67% 558
13 Willas 67% 375
14 Wallies 57% 223
15 Weels 80% 223
16 Willsea 57% 214
17 Willias 57% 191
18 Woollas 57% 181
19 Wels 80% 155
20 Wallase 57% 131
21 Woollis 57% 121
22 Wollas 67% 107
23 Wollis 67% 101

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The surname Wells is the most popular version of all its varients

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