This unusual name may have derived from two distinct possible sources. Firstly, it may be a variant of the surname Waller, which is either a nickname for "a man of pleasant temper", from the Old French word "galure, gallier", merry or cheerful; Waller was the North-Eastern French form. It may also be an occupational name for a mason, a builder of walls, from the Middle English word "welle", wall. Alternatively the name may be a variant of the Italian surname "Valerio", which originated from a medieval personal name "Valerius" from the Latin "valere", meaning to be strong, to flourish. This was borne by several Christian saints, among them the 4th Century bishop of Trier and Saragossa. Early recordings of the name include Adam le Walere, found in the "Middle English Surnames of Occupation", in 1280 and one Henry le Waller who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1279. Richard Valere married Wynifred Richard on May 20th 1565 at the Church of St. Giles Cripplegate, London, and Frauncis Valler was christened on April 1st 1567 also at the Church of St. Giles Cripplegate. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Waliere, which was dated 1185, in the "Records of the Templars in England in the 12th Century, Kent", during the reign of King Richard 1st, known as "Richard the Lionheart", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

© Copyright: Name Origin Research 1980 - 2024