Wesley, Westley, West-leigh, West-lea, Welswey, or Wellesley ?

Family Name

"On the southwestern shore line of England is the county of Dorset, a part of which was called "West-Leas," lea signifying a field or farm.  In Somerset, adjoining Dorset, there was a place called Welswey, and before surnames were common we have Arthur of Welswey, or Arthur Wellsesley (Wellesley), and John West-leigh, and Henry West-ley. There were landowners in Somerset named Westley in the days of Alfred the Great, in the ninth century.  Sir William de Wellesley was a member of Parliment in 1339.  His second son, Sir Richard, became head of the Wesleys in Ireland, from whom descended Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, the conquerer of Napolean at Waterloo. We step out on firmer ground and get nearer home in stating that a grandson of Sir William, Sir Herbert, now called Westley, was the father of Bartholomew Westley, and great-grandfather of our own John Wesley." (1)

• Susannah Annesley Wesley (1669-1742)

• John Wesley (1703-1791)

• Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

• Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington (1769-1852)

• Venable Wesley (1832-1862)

Last updated by rhw on 14 January 2006