Frank I hope this is still a working address. My Grandfather Richard WHALLEY born in Lancaster 1853 but his birth certificate stated WALLEY. His grandfather Thomas Walley was born in Cheshire 1816. Could there be a connection? I live in the USA and pronounce WHALLEY as Wally. Some people pronounce it as Whale-ey which drove me crazy when I was a young person. Regards, Jean Whalley Lopuch > [Original Message] > From: keith_w <keith_w@dslextreme.com> > To: <WHALEY-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: 8/17/2006 3:13:34 PM > Subject: Re: [WSP] Whaley vs Whalley > > Frank Whalley wrote: > > I was born in Staffordshire, England, and there my name was always > > pronounced 'Wally', like the first name which is common in the USA but > > not very common here. In fact, I have seen the name written in censuses > > as 'Wolley', presumably after being spoken to an enumerator by an > > illiterate person. > > > > When I chased my family tree to Cheshire, I found that there in the > > early 1800s my family spelled their names 'Walley', without and 'h', and > > they were not illiterate. The 'h' was added later, probably to > > 'poshify' it. > > > > I have never visited the village of Whalley in Lancashire (shame!), but > > I'm told by people who come from around there that in those parts it is > > pronouned with the long 'a' - Wall - ee. > > > > In colloquial English, the term 'wally' denotes an inadequate or stupid > > person. Therefore I have changed the way I pronounce my name from wally > > to wall-ee. I hasten to add that I did this only because of the ragging > > my son received at school over his name; so when he changed schools it > > was natural to get over the problem by simply saying it differently! > > > > Incidentally, there are far more Whalleys in England than any other > > spelling. Walley is the next most popular, with Whaley a distant third. > > > > Frank Whalley > > Penarth, nr Cardiff, Wales, UK