Lewis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales-Alt
Wales
Ireland

Etymology of Lewis

What does the name Lewis mean?

The roots of the Celtic name of Lewis lie amid the rugged landscape of Wales. This old, proud name is from the personal name Lewis, an Anglicized form of the Welsh name Llewellyn. This name is often explained as meaning "lion-like," but is in fact probably derived from the Welsh word "llyw," which means "leader." Alternatively, the name Lewis is also an Anglo-French form of the Old Frankish name Hludwig, which means "loud battle."

Early Origins of the Lewis family

The surname Lewis was first found in Glamorganshire (Welsh: Sir Forgannwg), a region of South Wales, anciently part of the Welsh kingdom of Glywysing, where the family held a seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Lewis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lewis research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1890 is included under the topic Early Lewis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lewis Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lewis, Lewiss, Lewess, Lews, Llewys, Llewis, Lewwis, Llewess and many more.

Early Notables of the Lewis family

Lewis of Glamorgan...
Also of note was Francis Lewis of New York, signer of the American Declaration of Independence...

Lewis World Ranking

the United States, the name Lewis is the 23^rd most popular surname with an estimated 562,062 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Lewis is ranked the 61^st most popular surname with an estimated 35,038 people with that name. 2 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Lewis is the 899^th popular surname. 3 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Lewis as 64^th with 412 people. 4 Australia ranks Lewis as 47^th with 40,743 people. 5 New Zealand ranks Lewis as 70^th with 4,848 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Lewis as 22^nd with 116,009 people. 7 South Africa ranks Lewis as 337^th with 20,102 people. 8

Migration of the Lewis family to Ireland

Some of the Lewis family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lewis migration to the United States +

Lewis Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Roger Lewis, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 10
Thomas Lewis, who landed in New Hampshire in 1630 10
William Lewis, who landed in New England in 1630 10
George Lewis, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1630 10
William Lewis, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1632 aboard the ship "Lyon" 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lewis Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Francis Lewis, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 10
Xto Lewis, who landed in Virginia in 1706 10
Ellis Lewis, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1708 10
Ellis Lewis, who settled in Kennett, Pennsylvania in 1708
Jone Lewis, who arrived in Virginia in 1719 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lewis Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ruhard Lewis, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1802 10
Susan Lewis, aged 36, who landed in Delaware in 1803 10
Fanny Lewis, aged 70, who landed in Delaware in 1803 10
Fanny, Lewis Jr., aged 15, who landed in Delaware in 1803 10
Andw Lewis, aged 20, who landed in Delaware in 1803 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lewis Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

William J Lewis, who arrived in Arkansas in 1901 10
Harold S Lewis, who landed in Colorado in 1903 10
Nathaniel Lewis, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1905 10
Leonard Gaetz Lewis, who arrived in Alabama in 1913 10

Lewis migration to Canada +

Lewis Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Lewis, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
David Lewis, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Thomas Lewis, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Mary Lewis, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Susa Lewis, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lewis Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Isaac Lewis, who arrived in Canada in 1828
Eleazar Lewis, who arrived in Canada in 1829
Elizabeth Lewis, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1832
Joseph Lewis, aged 27, a chordwinder, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Alchymist" from Falmouth, Cornwall, England
John Lewis, aged 25, a currier, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Hibernia" from Kinsale, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lewis migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet

Mr. John Lewis, (b. 1764), aged 25, Welsh settler convicted at Glamorganshire, Wales in 1787, sentenced to life for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 9
Mr. Thomas Lewis, British settler convicted at Hampshire, England in 1788, sentenced to Life for theft, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 10
Mr. John Lewis, British settler convicted at Wiltshire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 10
Miss Mary Lewis, (b. 1774), aged 14, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 10

Second Fleet

Mr. David Lewis, British settler convicted in Brecknockshire, Wales in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Salamander" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 10
Mr. Edmond Hiram Lewis, British settler convicted in Nottinghamshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 10
Mr. Edward Lewis, (d. 1792), Welsh settler convicted in Carmarthenshire, Wales in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Salamander" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 10
Mr. James Lewis, Welsh settler convicted in Radnorshire, Wales in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 10
Mr. John Lewis, British settler convicted in Surrey, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 10

Third Fleet

Miss Sophia Lewis, (b. 1758), aged 29, English settler convicted in London on 25th October 1786, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Penrhyn" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 10
Mr. James Lewis, British seaman on the Navy support ship for the First Fleet the "HMS Sirius" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788

Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Lewis Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. John Lewis, (Sinderbury), (b. 1771), aged 26, English convict who was convicted in Hereford, Herefordshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Miss Elizabeth Lewis, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12

Lewis Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Lewis, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Miss Margaret Lewis, British Convict who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. William Lewis, British convict who was convicted in Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. Edward Lewis, British settler who was convicted in Kent, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Fortune And Alexander" on 31st December 1805, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. John Lewis, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lewis 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:

Lewis Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. J. Lewis, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 18
Miss Lewis, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 18
Mr. David Lewis, (b. 1805), aged 34, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 18
Mrs. Lewis, (b. 1804), aged 35, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 18
Francis Charles Lewis, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lewis migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 19

Lewis Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Richard Lewis, who was aboard the ship "Sea Venture" who wrecked in Bermudas in 1609, he died in Bermuda 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Lewis (post 1700) +

John Llewellyn Lewis (1880-1969), American Labour leader and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Clive Staples "C.S." Lewis (1898-1963), Irish academic and writer, best known for his works: "The Screwtape Letters", "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "The Space Trilogy"
Jerry Lewis (1926-2017), born Joseph or Jerome Levitch, an American actor, comedian, singer, film producer, film director, screenwriter, and humanitarian, famous for his partnership with Dean Martin and later his live Labor Day weekend broadcast of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon for 44 years, known as The King of Comedy
Sir William Arthur Lewis (1915-1991), Saint Lucian economist, winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize in Economics becoming the first Black person to win a Nobel Prize in a category other than peace
John Robert Lewis (1940-2020), American civil rights leader and politician, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Jerry Lee Lewis (1935-2022), American famous musician from Louisiana, one of the ten charter members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, remembered for "Great Balls of Fire", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On", "High School Confidential" and many more
Dwight Douglas "D.D." Lewis (1945-2025), American professional football player, linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001
Ananda Lewis (1973-2025), American broadcast journalist, television host, model, carpenter, and social activist, staple MTV veejay in the late '90s, hosting “Total Request Live” and video countdown show “Hot Zone", correspondent for The Insider (2004-2005)
Wayne Lewis (1957-2025), musician, past member of the Atlantic Starr doing keyboards and vocal, an American R&B band, best known for the hits "Always", "Secret Lovers", "Circles", "Silver Shadow", and "Masterpiece"
... (Another 99 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Lewis family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mr. James Charles Lewis (1959-1979), New Zealander Fight Steward, from Auckland, New Zealand working aboard the Air New Zealand sightseeing Flight 901 when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 20
Mr. John Lewis, Australian seaman who died aboard the ship "Dunbar" when she sunk off the coast of Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), Australia on 28th August 1857
Mr. Charles Lewis (d. 1914), British Chief 3rd Class Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 21
Mr. John Lewis, British Assistant Cook from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 22
Mr. Henry Lewis (d. 1914), British Assistant Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 22
... (Another 58 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html