Wheal Family History

From Middle English wel ‘happy prosperous’ influenced perhaps by wele ‘prosperity wealth’. Wheal(e) and Wheel(e) appear to be modern re-spellings of earlier Weal(e) and Weel(e) through false association with wheal (‘pimple’) and wheel. Compare Wale with which Wheal may have been confused.

Some forms of the name without the definite article may alternatively belong under (2). For someone who lived near a deep pool (Middle English wele Old English wǣl wēl) or who came from a place so called such as Weel (ER Yorks).

For one who lived near or was in charge of a water‐wheel (Middle English whel from Old English hwēol ‘wheel’). Compare Wheelhouse.

From Middle English wevel (Old English wifel) ‘malt weevil’.