The Origins Of The Name "Waller"

There are at least 3 possibilities for the origin of the surname "Waller".

I. Before surnames became common, tradesmen and professionals were often called by their given name plus their occupation.
Later, John the carpenter would become John Carpenter, John the cobbler would become John Shoemaker or John the blacksmith would become John Black
Regarding the name "Waller", the middle English word, "Walle", meant "to furnish with walls: a person who builds walls".
A "Waller" was also used to describe the trade of a Mason.

II. In some cases the old French words "galure, galier, guallier", which meant a pleasant person was used as a nickname before surnames were commonly adopted.

III. Yet another possible source for this surname is the middle English "walle", a corruption of "welle" found in place names in the north and east of England. Here it may mean "dweller by a stream".

One of the first references to the name was made to a William Walliere, who was a Knight Templar in Kent in 1185;
Nicholas le Walour is listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327.
Henry le Waller is listed in the Rotuii Hundredorum for Cambridgeshire in 1279.

Some of the earliest settlers in the New World were Wallers.
Jo Waller is listed among the passengers on the "Expedition" bound for Barbadoes from Gravesend in November 1635.
In July of 1635 Peter Waller was listed among the passengers on the "Transport" out of London and bound Virginia.
Thomas Waller, aged 26, husbandman, is listed among the the passengers on the "Diana" bound for Maryland in April 1774.

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