Wesley (name)
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Wesley, a shortened version of "Wesleydale", is a name with an Anglo-Norman etymology. The "wes" portion of the name refers to the Western cardinal direction, while the word "lea" refers to a field, pasture, or other clearing in a forest.[1] Thus, the name's origin refers to a "western lea," or a field to the west.[2]
The name was predominantly used as a surname until John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church, inspired some parents to name their sons after him while also retaining the parents' own surname.
Surname
- The Wesley family, founders of Methodism and noted musicians, including:
- Samuel Wesley (poet) (1662–1735), minister and Stuart poet
- John Wesley (1703–1791), son of the above, the Founder of the Methodist denomination of Protestant Christianity
- Charles Wesley (1707–1788), younger brother of the above, Methodist leader and prolific hymn writer
- Charles Wesley junior (1757–1834), son of the above, organist, composer
- Samuel Wesley (1766–1837), younger brother of the above, organist, composer
- Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810–1876), son of the above, organist, composer
- Susanna Wesley (1669–1742), wife of Samuel Wesley (poet)
- Blake Wesley (b. 1959), former Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Charles Wesley (1896-1944), Negro league baseball player
- Dante Wesley (b. 1979), American football player
- David Wesley (b. 1970), retired American basketball player
- Fred Wesley (b. 1943), American jazz trombonist
- Glen Wesley (b. 1968), former Canadian National Hockey League player
- John Wesley (guitarist) (b. 1962), American musician
- Mary Wesley (1912–2002), British author
- Paul Wesley (b. 1982), American actor
- Richard Wesley (b. 1945), African American playwright
- Rutina Wesley, American actress
- Walt Wesley (b. 1945), former American basketball player
- William Wesley (b. 1964), American basketball player and agent
Given name
- Wesley Anderson, American film director
- Wesley Barbosa De Morais, Brazilian football player
- Wesley T. Bishop, American academic, lawyer, and politician
- Wesley Brown (disambiguation), several people
- Wesley G. Bush, American business executive
- Wesley Chu (b. 1976), American science fiction writer
- Wesley Clark, American military general, and politician
- Wesley Correira, American mixed martial artist
- Wesley Cox, American video game player, professional violinist and bowler
- Wesley Fofana, French rugby union player
- Wesley Klein, winner of the second series of Popstars (Netherlands)
- Wesley Korir (b. 1982), Kenyan athlete and politician
- Wesley Lopes Beltrame, Brazilian football player
- Wesley Lopes da Silva, Brazilian football player
- Wesley Morgan, Canadian actor and model
- Wesley Sneijder, Dutch football player
- Wesley Snipes, American actor
- Wesley So, Filipino chess player
- Wesley Stromberg, American musician, member of band Emblem3
- Wesley Willis, schizophrenic cult musician and painter
Fictional characters
- Wesley Crusher, from Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Wesley Pegden, from Last of the Summer Wine
- Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, from the television series Angel, originally introduced in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
See also
References
This page or section lists people that share the same given name or the same family name.
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