UK surname
A variant spelling of the Welsh surname Llewellyn meaning 'lion-leader'.
In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Lewellin surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #29,218 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Llantwitvairdre and Bassaleg. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lewellin is 168 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 90.3%.
1881 census count
31
Ranked #29,218
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1851
168 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lewellin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lewellin surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 168 | #11,873 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 31 | #29,218 |
| 1891 | historical | 44 | #30,838 |
| 1901 | historical | 27 | #31,057 |
| 1911 | historical | 40 | #28,913 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Llantwitvairdre, Bassaleg, Radyr and Bristol City: St Paul. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Llantwitvairdre | Glamorganshire |
| 3 | Bassaleg | Monmouthshire |
| 4 | Radyr | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | Bristol City: St Paul | Gloucestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lewellin surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lewellin, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Lewellin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lewellin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Lewellin is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lewellin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lewellin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Lewellin has its origins in Wales, dating back to the medieval period. It is a patronymic name, derived from the Welsh personal name Llewelyn, which means "leader" or "chief." This name was particularly popular among the Welsh nobility and ruling families during the Middle Ages.
The earliest recorded instances of the Lewellin surname can be found in various medieval Welsh records and documents. One notable example is found in the Red Book of Hergest, a 14th-century manuscript containing Welsh poetry and historical texts, where the name Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, a member of the ruling dynasty of Gwynedd, is mentioned.
In the late 13th and early 14th centuries, the name Lewellin appears in several English and Welsh records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Shropshire and the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire. It is likely that the surname emerged as a result of the Norman conquest of Wales, when the use of surnames became more widespread.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Lewellin surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Montgomeryshire, Denbighshire, and Flintshire in Wales. Several notable individuals bore this name, including Lewellin ap Rees (born around 1460), a Welsh landowner and member of the gentry, and Lewellin ap Owen (born around 1520), a Welsh poet and bard.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Lewellin surname began to spread beyond Wales, as Welsh families migrated to other parts of Britain and even to the American colonies. One notable figure was John Lewellin (1619-1693), a Welsh-born merchant and landowner who settled in Pennsylvania and became a prominent figure in the colony's early history.
Other notable individuals with the Lewellin surname include David Lewellin (1785-1860), a Welsh Methodist minister and author; Richard Lewellin (1830-1901), a Welsh-born industrialist and philanthropist in the United States; and Eliza Lewellin (1859-1941), a Welsh-American educator and suffragist who played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement in California.
While the Lewellin surname is relatively uncommon today, it remains a part of the rich cultural heritage of Wales, reflecting the region's long and storied history. The name serves as a reminder of the Welsh language, traditions, and the influential figures who have borne this distinctive surname over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lewellin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Glamorgan leads with 10 Lewellins recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.99x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Glamorgan | 10 | 18.99x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 9.18x |
| Cornwall | 5 | 14.61x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.84x |
| Surrey | 3 | 2.04x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 9.15x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.69x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 5 Lewellins recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.68x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 5 | 19.68x |
| Coychurch Lower | 5 | 16666.67x |
| Coyty Higher | 5 | 10000.00x |
| Maker | 5 | 1562.50x |
| Bermondsey | 3 | 33.33x |
| Haseley | 2 | 10000.00x |
| Llanishen | 2 | 10000.00x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 16.46x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 1 | 50.51x |
| Halliwell | 1 | 76.34x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lewellin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Lewellin surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Lewellin a modern rank of #38,594.
A variant spelling of the Welsh surname Llewellyn meaning 'lion-leader'.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lewellin bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.