Where does my family's surname come from?

Question:

Where does my family's surname come from?

My father's last name is Berry, my mother's is Wheeler. Where do these last names originate from?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: The following citations are from "A Dictionary of English Surnames" by Reaney & Wilson, Oxford University Press, 1995:

Berry, Berrey, Berrie, Bury:

Gilbert de la Beri, 1202, Cornwall
Adam Biry, 1257, Yorkshire
Roger Bury, 1260, Cambridgeshire
Hubert Bery, 1268, Suffolk
Walter del Bury, 1275, Worchestershire
William atte Bery, 1327, Sussex

From Old English "byrig", dative of "burh" meaning "fort", surviving in Berry Pomeroy (Devon), Bury St. Edumunds (Suffolk), and Bury (Hunts, Lancs). Middle English "beri", "biri", "buri" was used of a manor-house and the surname must often mean "servant at the manor-house". Occasionally "Bury" may be "dweller at an enclosure near the bower" (OE "bur") or the fort (OE "burh").

Wheeler, Wheeller, Wheler, Whealler, Wailer, Wayler, Whaler:

Roger le Weweler, 1249, Sussex
John le Whelare, 1275, Worchestershire
Hugh le Welere, 1279, Cambridgeshire
Thomas le Wegheler, 1284, Sussex
Stephen le Whelere, 1317, Essex
John le Wheghler, 1327, Sussex
Gilbert le Whygler, 1351, Surrey

A derivative of the Old English "hweogol", "hweowol", "hweol" meaning "wheel", "wheel-maker", "wheelwright".
Wailer, Wayler, both rare, are from Wegheler; Whaler, also rare, is from Wheghler, with spelling assimilated to that of the more common word.