Wesley
 |
Look up Wesley in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
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
- Mary Wesley (1912–2002), British author
- Fred Wesley (b. 1943), American jazz trombonist
- Glen Wesley (b. 1968), former Canadian National Hockey League player
- John Wesley (guitarist) (b. 1962), American musician
- 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. 1969), American basketball player and agent
Given name
- Wesley Anderson, American film director
- Wesley Barbosa De Morais, Brazilian football player
- Wesley Bishop, American academic, lawyer, and politician
- Wesley Brown (disambiguation), several people
- 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 Lopes Beltrame, Brazilian football player
- Wesley Lopes da Silva, Brazilian football player
- Wesley Morgan, Canadian actor and model
- Wesley Snipes, American actor
- Wesley Sneijder, Dutch football player
- 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
- Wesley Gibson, in Wanted (2008 film)
- Wesley Collins, in Power Rangers Time Force, the ninth season of the Power Rangers franchise
- Wesley Owens, from Mr. Belvedere