Show ContentsEmlyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

  • Origins Available:
  • England
Emlyn Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Emlyn

What does the name Emlyn mean?

The name Emlyn was spawned by the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that ruled a majority of Britain. It comes from the name of an ancestor as in the 'son of Emelin,' popularly Emlin and (with intrusive b) Emblin. Emblem is an imitative corruption. 1

Early Origins of the Emlyn family

The surname Emlyn was first found in Dorset, England where the first on record was found in the Domesday Book of 1086. It was there that we found Anschitil filius Ameline. 2 Over a century later, Godefridus filius Emeline was listed in Winton, Hampshire in 1115. A few years later, John Emelin was listed in Suffolk in 1208 and later again, Geoffrey Amelyn was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. 3

Early History of the Emlyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Emlyn research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1115, 1296, 1455, 1487, 1651, 1652, 1662, 1663, 1697, 1741 and 1754 are included under the topic Early Emlyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Emlyn Spelling Variations

Emlyn has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Emlyn have been found, including Emblem, Emblin, Embling, Emlyn, Amblin, Amlin, Emeline, Emline, Emley, Emlam and many more.

Early Notables of the Emlyn family

  • Thomas Emlyn (1663-1741), first Unitarian minister in England, born at Stamford, Lincolnshire, 27 May 1663. "The register of St. Michael's, Stamford, has the entry 'June 11th, Thomas, son of Silvester...
  • but the Embleys or Emblins had been long settled as yeomen in the parish of Tinwell, Rutlandshire. Silvester, who originally spelled his name Emley, afterwards Emlyn, was admitted as a yeoman to scot...

Migration of the Emlyn family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Emlyns to arrive on North American shores: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Contemporary Notables of the name Emlyn (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Emlyn (1663-1741), English Presbyterian clergyman
  • Hugh Emlyn Hooson QC (1925-2012), Baron Hooson, a Welsh Liberal and then Liberal Democrat politician, Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire (1962-1979)
  • Thomas Emlyn Gwynne (1898-1962), Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer, Member of the Wales National Team in 1928
  • Dr. Robert Emlyn Havard (1901-1985), English physician of C.S. Lewis, humorously nicknamed a "Useless Quack," by Warren Lewis one of the founding members of the "Inklings," an informal Oxford literary society
  • George Emlyn Williams CBE (1905-1987), Welsh dramatist and actor appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1962
  • Emlyn Davies (1922-2016), Welsh international rugby union player who played for the Wales National Team (1947-1948)
  • Emlyn Aubrey (b. 1964), American professional PGA golfer
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)

Houseofnames.com on Facebook