This is a name of ancient origins. It derives from an early Anglo-Saxon and German pre 7th century personal and baptismal name 'Wascelinus'. This spelling is a diminutive of 'Wazo', (the dragon), a name of great popularity in early times. In pre 1066 France the spelling was as Gacelin and Gaselin, and these forms also travelled with the Normans during their invasion, but are now apparently obsolete. The modern surnames are usually Wastling, Wasling, Waslin and Wasselin, but perhaps not surprisingly there are many spellings. The first recording is shown below, other interesting recordings being those of Wacelinus Clericus, Waselin the clerk, in the Danelaw Rolls of Lincoln in the year 1154. Following this recording we have the locational recording of Wascellinus de Brunham also of Lincoln in 1205, whilst Thomas Wazelin appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1167. Adam Wastelyn is registered in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk for the year 1327, and Adam Wastling in the Yorkshire Friary Rolls of 1581. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Wacelin, which was dated 1150, in the charters of the Gilbertine Monasteries, during the reign of King Stephen of England, known as 'Stephen of Blois', 1135 - 1154. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.