Wesley (name)
Introduction '''Wesley''' 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. Thus, the name's origin refers to a "western lea," or a field to the west.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.
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 principal 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)*Antoine Wesley (born 1997), American football player*Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), a British soldier and statesman best known for defeating Napoleon, was born as Arthur Wesley*August Wesley (1887–1942), Finnish journalist, trade unionist and revolutionary*Barry Wesley (born 1999), American football player*Billy Wesley (born 1971), American politician*Blake Wesley (ice hockey) (born 1959), former Canadian professional ice hockey player*Blake Wesley (basketball) (born 2003), American basketball player*Charles Wesley (1896–1944), Negro league baseball player*Dante Wesley (born 1979), American football player*David Wesley (born 1970), retired American basketball player*Fred Wesley (born 1943), American jazz trombonist*Glen Wesley (born 1968), former Canadian National Hockey League player*John Wesley (guitarist) (born 1962), American musician*Mary Wesley (1912–2002), British author*Mia Wesley, American actress*Paul Wesley (born 1982), American actor*Richard Wesley (born 1945), African American playwright*Rutina Wesley (born 1979), American actress*Dorsey Wesley, American record producer known as Megahertz*Walt Wesley (born 1945), former American basketball player*William Wesley (born 1964), American basketball player and agent
Given name *Wesley Addy (1913–1996), American actor*Wesley Anderson (born 1969), American film director*Wesley Augusto Henn Marth (born 2000), Brazilian football player*Wesley Barbosa De Morais (born 1981), Brazilian football player*Wesley G. Bush (born 1961), American business executive*Wesley Chesbro (born 1951), California Assemblyman and Senator*Wesley Chu (born 1976), American science fiction writer*Wesley Clark (born 1944), American military general, and politician*Wesley Correira (born 1978), American mixed martial artist*Wesley Cox (born 1955), American basketball player*Wesley Craven (1939–2015), American filmmaker*Wesley David de Oliveira Andrade (born 2000), Brazilian football player*Wesley Duncan (born 1980), American politician*Wesley Eure (born 1951), American actor*Wesley Fofana (footballer) (born 2000), French footballer*Wesley Fofana (rugby union) (born 1988), French rugby union player*Wesley French (born 1996), American football player*Wesley Henderson (born 1951), American architect, historian, and educator*Wesley Klein (born 1988), winner of the second series of ''Popstars (Netherlands)''*Wesley Korir (born 1982), Kenyan athlete and politician*Wesley Lopes Beltrame (born 1987), Brazilian footballer*Wesley Lopes da Silva (born 1980), Brazilian footballer*Wesley Matthews (born 1986), American basketball player*Wesley Moraes (born 1996), Brazilian football player*Wesley Morgan (born 1990), Canadian actor and model*Wes Nelson (born 1998), English television personality and singer*Wesley Pruden (1935–2019), American journalist*Wesley Ira Purkey (1952–2020), American convicted murderer*Wesley Santos (born 1991), Brazilian footballer*Wesley Scantlin (born 1972), Guitarist and singer for Puddle Of Mudd* Wesley Simms, co-founder of the Redfern All Blacks, an Indigenous Australian rugby league club*Wesley Sneijder (born 1984), Dutch footballer*Wesley Snipes (born 1962), American actor*Wesley So (born 1993), Filipino chess player*Wesley Somerville (born 1941), Northern Irish loyalist paramilitary*Wesley Stromberg (born 1993), American musician, member of band Emblem3*Wesley Tann (1928–2012), American fashion designer*Wesley Timoteo (born 2000), Canadian soccer player*Wesley Willis (1963–2003), American cult musician and painter
Fictional characters * Wesley Dodds, the first of many DC Comics superheroes using the name ''Sandman''* Westley, from ''The Princess Bride'', a 1973 novel and 1987 film* Wesley "Wes" Collins, from ''Power Rangers Time Force''* Wesley Crusher, in the television series ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''* Wesley T. Owens, in the television series ''Mr. Belvedere''* Wesley Pegden, from ''Last of the Summer Wine''* Wesley Gibson, from the Millarworld series ''Wanted'' (and its film adaptation), ''Nemesis Reloaded'', and ''Big Game''* Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, from the television series ''Angel'', originally introduced in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''* Robert Wesley, in the ''Star Trek'' franchise
See also * Wesly, given name* Wescley, given name* Wes (given name)* Westley (disambiguation)* Wesley Brown (disambiguation)
References