This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: BillAttwell Surnames: Attwell, atte Welle, Welles, Wells Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.wells/5522.2.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi I've been researching the At(t)well family in the UK for 30 years and can trace many hundreds of relations back 24 generations to 1290. My researches between 1200 and 1500 reveal hundreds of instances where the names Atwell/ atte Welle and Wells/Welles are all used interchangeably. The same individuals regularly recorded themselves as "Wells alias Atwell" or "Atwell alias Wells". Some individuals within a family adopted the name Atwell, whilst their siblings chose to use Welles. It is also true that some Welles families had absolutely no connection with the Atwells and vice versa, but I am confident that by 1600 a large proportion were inter-related. Many members of the Atwell/Welles branches I researched moved away and settled in numerous counties during the period 1200-1500. Since then, others have crossed the Atlantic. I have no doubt a widespread DNA test will prove the connection between the Atwells and Wells, but I suspect it would probably need to cover dozens of seemingly unrelated individuals both in the UK and USA to do so. Nevertheless, it's an excellent project to undertake. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.