Wesley (name)

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 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)

Others

• Blake Wesley (b. 1959), former Canadian professional ice hockey 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 names

• John Wesley Hardin, well-known outlaw and gunfighter in late 19th-century Texas
• John Wesley Powell, soldier, geologist, and explorer of the American West
• Wesley Brown, several people
• Wesley Clark, American military General, and politician
• Wesley Lopes Beltrame, Brazilian football player
• Wesley Snipes, American actor
• Wesley Sneijder, Dutch football player
• Wesley So, Filipino chess player
• Wesley Willis, schizophrenic cult musician and painter

See also: Wes

Fictional characters

• Wesley Crusher, character from Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Wesley Pegden, character from Last of the Summer Wine
• Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, character from the TV series Angel, originally introduced in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Wesley Gibson, character from the movie Wanted

Places

• Wesley, Maine, a town in Washington County, Maine, United States
• Wesley, Iowa, a city in Kossuth County, Iowa, United States
• Wesley, Oklahoma, an unincorporated community in Atoka County, Oklahoma, United States
• Wesley, Indiana, an unicorporated town in Wayne County, Indiana, United States
• Wesley Township, Will County, Illinois, United States
• Wesley Township, Washington County, Ohio, United States
• Wesley, New Zealand, a suburb of Auckland
• Wesley, Dominica, a village in northeastern Dominica

See also

• Wesley College (disambiguation)