Hi: >From what I understand Whelan/Phelan is really the same name. My grandfather was James Whelan - his sister was Alice Phelan and his brother Thomas Phelan. On his parents' marriage certificate they are Whelan and the baptismal records all say Whelan. From what I've read sometimes people used Whelan and sometimes Phelan - there was no rift - my father's family was close and his brother lived with them the last few years of his life. I always check both Phelan and Whelan. Mary