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Llewellyn History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Llewellyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales

The Llewellyn surname is derived from the Welsh personal name Llewellyn, which was also spelled Llywelin. This name is often explained as meaning lion-like, but is in fact probably derived from the Welsh word "llyw," which means leader. The Welsh double l was a constant source of trouble to English speakers, and was often translated "f." "A very ancient Welsh personal name, borne by many princes and magnates of Celtic origin." 1

Early Origins of the Llewellyn family

The surname Llewellyn was first found in Pembrokeshire (Welsh: Sir Benfro), a county in south-west Wales, anciently part of the Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth. The most famous and oldest reference of the name was Dafydd ap Llywelyn (c.1212-1246), Prince of Gwynedd from 1240 to 1246, the first ruler to claim the title Prince of Wales. His father was Llywelyn the Great (Welsh: Llywelyn Fawr) (c. 1172-1240), Prince of Gwynedd in north Wales who eventually became ruler over most of Wales. "Davydd ab Llewelyn died at Aber, about 1246, and was buried in the abbey of Conway." 2

Over in Aberedow, South Wales "Llewelyn's Cave, is said to have been occasionally used as an asylum by that brave, but unfortunate, prince, Llewelyn ab Grufydd, the last royal defender of Welsh liberty and independence, against the overpowering army of Edward I." 2

Early History of the Llewellyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Llewellyn research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1380, 1415 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Llewellyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Llewellyn Spelling Variations

The Welsh have an extremely large amount of spelling variations of their native surnames to their credit. It was up to the priest or the scribe taking the official records to determine how the spoken name was to be made literal. As time progressed, the old Brythonic names of Wales were recorded in English, which was especially problematic since the English language had extreme difficulty recording the highly inflected sounds of Cymraeg. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Llewellyn have included Flewelling, Flewellen, Llewellen, Llewillan, Llewellyn, Alewellyin, Flewellyn, Flywillan, Fleuellan, Llewallin, Llewallyn, Flewellan, Flewellin, Llewellan, Lewellin, Lewellen, Lewillan, Lewellyn, Lywellen, Lywellin, Lewallin and many more.

Early Notables of the Llewellyn family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Sir Dafydd ap Llewelyn ap Hywel (c. 1380-1415), better known as Dafydd Gam or Davy Gam, a Welsh medieval...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Llewellyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Llewellyn Ranking

In the United States, the name Llewellyn is the 5,152^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Llewellyn is ranked the 867^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,861 people with that name. 4

Llewellyn migration to the United States +

Many Welsh families joined their Scottish and Irish neighbors during the late 1800s and early 1900s in seeking refuge in North America. Like the Irish and Scottish, many Welsh anxiously awaited the work, freedom, and opportunities that they believed lay in North America. Those who did journey over to the United States and what became known as Canada often realized those dreams, but only through much toil and perseverance. Whenever and however these Welsh immigrants arrived in North America, they were instrumental in the creation of the industry, commerce, and cultural heritage within those two developing nations. In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Llewellyn were found:

Llewellyn Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Morris Llewellyn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1693 5

Llewellyn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Llewellyn, aged 28, who landed in Kennebunk, Me in 1830 5
Evan Llewellyn, aged 37, who landed in New York in 1862 5
Edward Llewellyn, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 5
Reese Llewellyn, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1868 5
Richard Llewellyn, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1879 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Llewellyn migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Llewellyn Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Mrs. Llewellyn, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
G Llewellyn, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
Miss G Llewellyn, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
Miss V Llewellyn, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Llewellyn migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Llewellyn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Daniel Llewellyn, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Prince Regent" 6
Thomas Llewellyn, aged 33, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Sir Thomas Gresham" 7
Thomas Llewellyn, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Lord Raglan" 8
William Llewellyn, aged 24, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1860 aboard the ship "Ramillies" 9

Llewellyn migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Llewellyn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Lionel Llewellyn, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Armstrong" in 1865
Dr. Llewellyn, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Jessie Gilbert" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 6th June 1865 10
John Llewellyn, aged 22, a smith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Conflict" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Llewellyn (post 1700) +

Brigadier-General Fred Warde Llewellyn (1878-1955), American Assistant Judge Advocate-General of the Army (1941-1943) 11
John Anthony Llewellyn PH.D. (b. 1933), American scientist and a former NASA astronaut 12
Samuel Llewellyn (1841-1915), American politician, Prohibition Candidate for U.S. Representative from Ohio 10th District, 1906 13
Percy Llewellyn, American politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1940; Progressive Candidate for Michigan State Senate 21st District, 1948 13
Mildred M. Llewellyn, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1944 13
Lee Llewellyn, American politician, Burgess of Dormont, Pennsylvania, 1937 13
F. P. Llewellyn, American Republican politician, New Mexico Republican State Chair, 1958 13
Elizabeth Llewellyn, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1928 13
Chris Llewellyn, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Bainbridge Island, Washington, 2001 13
Charles L. Llewellyn, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Fayette County Democratic Party, 1927; Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1928 13
... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Llewellyn family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Alfred J Llewellyn, British Leading Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 14

HMS Repulse

Mr. Ogwyn Llewellyn (b. 1912), British Petty Officer Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 15

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. Edwin Samuel Llewellyn (b. 1887), Welsh coal miner from Penyrheol, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales. Institute of Historical Research, 1849, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "PRINCE REGENT" 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849PrinceRegent.htm
South Australian Register Monday 20th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Sir Thomas Gresham 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/sirthomasgresham1854.shtml
South Australian Register Wednesday 25th October 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Lord Raglan 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/lordraglan1854.shtml
South Australian Register Tuesday 11 January 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAMILLIES 1860. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/ramillies1860.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, April 2) Fred Llewellyn. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Llewellyn/Fred_Warde/USA.html
NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) John Llewellyn. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/llewellyn-ja.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html