Where does my family's surname come from?

Question

My father's last name is Berry, my mother's is Wheeler. Where do these last names originate from?

Answer 1

The following citations are from "A Dictionary of English Surnames" by Reaney & Wilson, Oxford University Press, 1995:

Berry, Berrey, Berrie, Bury:

Gilbert de la Beri, 1202, Cornwall
Adam Biry, 1257, Yorkshire
Roger Bury, 1260, Cambridgeshire
Hubert Bery, 1268, Suffolk
Walter del Bury, 1275, Worchestershire
William atte Bery, 1327, Sussex

From Old English "byrig", dative of "burh" meaning "fort", surviving in Berry Pomeroy (Devon), Bury St. Edumunds (Suffolk), and Bury (Hunts, Lancs). Middle English "beri", "biri", "buri" was used of a manor-house and the surname must often mean "servant at the manor-house". Occasionally "Bury" may be "dweller at an enclosure near the bower" (OE "bur") or the fort (OE "burh").

Wheeler, Wheeller, Wheler, Whealler, Wailer, Wayler, Whaler:

Roger le Weweler, 1249, Sussex
John le Whelare, 1275, Worchestershire
Hugh le Welere, 1279, Cambridgeshire
Thomas le Wegheler, 1284, Sussex
Stephen le Whelere, 1317, Essex
John le Wheghler, 1327, Sussex
Gilbert le Whygler, 1351, Surrey

A derivative of the Old English "hweogol", "hweowol", "hweol" meaning "wheel", "wheel-maker", "wheelwright".
Wailer, Wayler, both rare, are from Wegheler; Whaler, also rare, is from Wheghler, with spelling assimilated to that of the more common word.

Answer 2

My first instinct would be to say no, but I've already done just that (and knew long before we had our son that we would). My son's name is Liam Croughan Coil. Croughan is an old family surname and has been the middle name of a son for 6 generations of Coils now. There are some surnames that I just don't like as names, even middle names. I'm honestly not all that thrilled with Croughan, but it was important to my husband and I don't hate it so it really wasn't worth fighting over. I do think it's a cool idea for other people if they like it though, there are some surnames that make really good first or middle names and I personally love names that have familiar significance.

Answer 3

Berry could likely be Irish, usually Barry. Wheeler is an occupational and likely English.

Answer 4

England

Answer 5

Those are American style surnames that your ancestors made up. My ancestors were originally Cuirkowski and my Grandpa changed it to Cosky. He changed it because his drill sargent called him queerkowski when it was pronounced sirkowski.

Answer 6

They came from this guy named Ted. His job was to give out surnames back in the old days.

Answer 7

England [both]