This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the well.' Of course Wells, saving in particular cases, has nothing to do with the city of Wells in the West country. The final 's' is added in common with other monosyllabic local surnames; compare Styles, Brooks, Bridges, &c. There is also a parish Wells-by-the-Sea, in the Diocese Norwich.

Gilbert de Welles, Norfolk, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

William de Welles, Lincolnshire, ibid.

Hervy del Welle, vicar of Mendham, Norfolk, 1320: History of Norfolk.

Johannes del Well, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

1583. Anthony Welles, Sussex: Register of the University of Oxford.

1617-8. John Wells and Joane Viccaries: Marriage Lic. (London).

liking.—Nick. 'the well liking,' i.e. of comely appearance; compare Wellbeloved.

'Well-liking lips they have.' - Love's Labour's Lost, act v. sc. 2.

Alice Welikeing, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Most probably of English origin from one or other of the places of the name in England. In Latin documents de Fontibus. Willelmus de fontibus witnessed a gift by Philip de Mubray to the monks of Dunfermline, c. 1202-14 (RD., p. 95), and Henricua de Fonte was witness to the gift by Philip de Mubray of a toft in Inuerkethin to the church of St. Thomas of Aberbrothoc, p. 1219 (RAA., I, p. 85). Richard de Welles witnessed a grant in favor of the chaplain of St. Peter at Duffus, 1240 (REM., 213), and Walter de Welles is mentioned in an Aberdeen document of 1277 (Friars, 13). Alisaundre de Welles was warden of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in Scotland, 1296. His seal shows a shield, lion rampant, S' F'ris Alexandri de Welles (Bain, II, p. 202,558). Galfridus de Wellys, chaplain in Aberdeen, 1317 (SCM., V, p. 5) is probably Galfridus de Wellys, perpetual vicar of Tarwas, 1331 (RAA., I, p. 202; II, p. 9). William de Wellis held lands in Aberdeen, 1342 (REA., I, p. 71). Thomas of Welles, a Scot, had a safe conduct to pass to Rome, 1448, and in 1486 Robert Wellys had a similar protection to pass between Scotland and England (Bain, IV, 1206, 1522). Patrick of Wellis, a witness in Perth, 1478 (RAA., II, 202), may be Patrick Wells (without the 'de'), canon of Scon, 1491 (Scon, p. 198). Gilbert Wellis was admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1493 (NSCM., I, p. 37). Robert de Fontibus was archdeacon of St. Andrews, 1498 (REA., II, p. 306), and John de Fontibus or John Wellis was presbyter in Brechin diocese, 1528 (Laing, 369). Patrick Wellis was provost of Perth, 1501 (LAC., p. lxxxix), and William Vellis held land in the regality of Arnbroath, 1535 (RAA., II, 828). James Wols or Weis, an inhabitant of Sanquhar, 1684 (RPC., 3. ser. IX). George Wells, merchant in Dumfries, 1711 (Dumfries). Local pronunciation in Dumfries is Walls.

(English) Dweller at the Spring [Old English w(i)ell(a] Robertus de Welle.—Charter-Rolls (Lincs), A.D. 1250-1.

Johannes del Well.—Yorks Poll-Tax, A.D. 1379.

As a surname Well has almost entirely been swallowed up in Wells.

(Eng). Dweller at, or near, the spring or stream; one who came from Well (spring or stream), the name of several places in England.

1. Towns in cos. Somerset and Norfolk. 2. A pluralization of Well.

Local. A name given to a person who resided there. "John, at the Wells"—John Wells. A bishop's see in Somersetshire, so called from the wells or springs there.

Well: a spring or source, enters into many combinations: Cholwell; Pinwell, from the custom of dropping pins into it; Halwell, the Holy Well; Loddiswell, Our Lady’s Well; Greenwell; Kettlewell, and its equivalent, Wherwell (Anglo-Saxon hvor, a ewer); Cromwell, the crooked well; Gulwell, St. Wolvella’s well. In Devonshire a well is in the vernacular a willis.

Wells. —This is an ancient English name which was represented commonly by Welles in the counties of Oxford and Cambridge in the reign of Edward I. (Hundred Rolls.) It is at present most numerous in the south of England, in Oxfordshire (as of old), Wilts, Berks, Sussex, and Kent. It has, however, an independent home in Lincolnshire, and extends northwards into Yorkshire and Lancashire.