An English and German surname, the Waller name comes from the Old English term ‘weall’ which mean a stone-built wall and the Middle English term ‘wellen’ which means to boil. There is also the Old French terms ‘galer’ and ‘wallier’ which mean to be happy and glad. A spelling variation for Waller is Wallere. In England the Waller family name began in Nottinghamshire and later is found strongly in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Norfolk, Essex, Kent, Durham, Surrey, Sussex, Hertfordshire and the city of London. In Scotland the Waller name is located in Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Dumfries-shire and West Lothian. Within the United States the Waller families began in Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Illinois. Famous: Fred Waller (inventor of the Cinerama, Waller Gunnery Trainer, photos at 360 degrees and water skis), Lewis Waller (English actor), Robert James Waller (writer), Gordon Waller (English singer), Tom Waller (movie film producer and director), Phil Waller (champion rugby player for England) and Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller (jazz musician and singer).