The proud lawris surname 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 lawris family
The surname lawris 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 lawris family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our lawris research.
Another 237 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1598, 1677, 1640, 1677, 1625, 1661, 1660, 1627, 1706, 1616, 1679, 1664, 1699, 1690, 1650, 1674, 1669, 1675 and are included under the topic Early lawris History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
lawris Spelling Variations
Welsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of
spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of
Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when
Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of
Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique
Brythonic Celtic language of the
Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many
spelling variations of particular
Welsh names are very important. The surname lawris has occasionally been spelled
Lewis, Lewiss, Lewess, Lews, Llewys, Llewis, Lewwis, Llewess and many more.
Early Notables of the lawris family (pre 1700)
Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Sir William Lewis, 1st
Baronet (1598-1677), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1640 and 1677; William
Lewis (1625-1661), an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1660; Richard
Lewis (c 1627-1706)...
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early lawris Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the lawris family to Ireland
Some of the lawris family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 101 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the lawris family to the New World and Oceana
The
Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those
Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name lawris: Robert
Lewis, who emigrated from
Wales to Virginia in 1638; Abigail Lewis, who came to Maryland in 1659; Owen Lewis, who immigrated to Virginia in 1667.
The lawris Motto
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Patriae fidus
Motto Translation: Faithful to my country.