Lewellen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales

The Lewellen 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 Lewellen family

The surname Lewellen 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 Lewellen family

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

Lewellen Spelling Variations

Although there are comparatively few Welsh surnames, they have a great many spelling variations. Variations of Welsh names began almost immediately after their acceptance within Welsh society. In the Middle Ages, it was up to priests and the few other people that recorded names in official documents to decide how to spell the names that they heard. Variations that occurred because of improper recording increased dramatically as the names were later transliterated into English. The Brythonic Celtic language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, featured many highly inflected sounds that could not be properly captured by the English language. 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 were all indicated by the particular variation of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Lewellen 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 Lewellen 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 Lewellen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lewellen Ranking

In the United States, the name Lewellen is the 8,635^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Lewellen migration to the United States +

Many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries, searching for land, work, and freedom. Like the many other immigrants from the British Isles, they made a significant contribution to the development of Canada and the United States. The Welsh and their descendents added a rich cultural tradition to the newly developed towns, cities, and villages. An investigation of the immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Lewellen:

Lewellen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Margaret Lewellen, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 4

Lewellen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

David Lewellen, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1886 4

Lewellen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Roy Lewellen, who immigrated to the United States, in 1919
R. Lewellen, aged 33, who settled in America, in 1921

Lewellen migration to Australia +

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

Lewellen Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

W. Lewellen, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Posthumous" in 1849 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Lewellen (post 1700) +

Roy C. Lewellen (1952-2023), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Arkansas State Senate (1990-2000) 6
John M. Lewellen (1930-2017), American politician, Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives (1999-2004)
Robert Lewellen, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Hampshire, 1988 6
Paula K. Lewellen, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Massachusetts, 1960 6
Homer W. Lewellen, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1964 6
Everett L. Lewellen, American Republican politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives from Andrew County, 1934 6
Royce R. Lewellen (b. 1930), retired California Superior Court Judge in Santa Barbara County, eponym of the Royce R. Lewellen Justice Center
Wayne Lewellen (1944-2009), American film distribution executive and producer for Paramount Pictures
Verne Lewellen (1901-1980), American football player

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/
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) The POSTHUMOUS 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Posthumous.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html