Whelan, also written Phelan, is a Gaelic name of the old south-east of Ireland.
Where does the Whelan name come from?
Whelan is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Ó Faoláin, “descendant of Faolán” — a name based on faol, “wolf,” so in effect “little wolf.” The same Gaelic name gives both Whelan and Phelan, which are simply two spellings of one name, along with Felan.
Whelan and Phelan in Ireland
The Ó Faoláin were a leading family of the Deise in County Waterford, and the name spread through the south-east, into Kilkenny, Carlow and the surrounding counties, where it remains very common. As an old Gaelic name, Whelan is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Did you know?
- Whelan comes from the Gaelic Ó Faoláin.
- It is based on faol, “wolf,” so “little wolf.”
- Whelan and Phelan are the same name in two spellings.
- The Ó Faoláin were a leading family of the Deise in Waterford.
- The name is very common across the south-east.
Related Irish family names
You may also like Pearse, Phillips, and Barry.
Carry the Whelan name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — ornaments, coasters, woven blankets and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the Whelan collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Whelan an Irish surname?
Yes — Whelan, also Phelan, is a Gaelic Irish surname, from Ó Faoláin, a leading family of the Deise in Waterford.
What does Whelan mean?
It means “descendant of Faolán,” a name based on the word for “wolf.”
Is Phelan the same name as Whelan?
Yes — Phelan and Whelan are two anglicised spellings of the same Gaelic name, Ó Faoláin.
Is there a Whelan family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our Whelan products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.
