UK surname
A surname derived from the Welsh name Llywelyn, meaning "leading" or "prominent".
In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Lewellyn surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #17,841 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Mynyddyslwyn and Llantwitvairdre. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lewellyn is 410 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.4%.
1881 census count
119
Ranked #17,841
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1851
410 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lewellyn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lewellyn surname density by area, 1881 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 | 410 | #5,916 |
| 1861 | historical | 366 | #6,987 |
| 1881 | historical | 119 | #17,841 |
| 1891 | historical | 181 | #16,065 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 55 | #27,313 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 9 | #37,614 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Mynyddyslwyn, Llantwitvairdre, Pentyrch and Merthyr Tydfil. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Mynyddyslwyn | Monmouthshire |
| 3 | Llantwitvairdre | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | Pentyrch | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lewellyn 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 Lewellyn, 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 Lewellyn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lewellyn 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, Lewellyn 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 Lewellyn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lewellyn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Lewellyn is of Welsh origin, derived from the personal name Llywelyn, which itself comes from the Welsh elements "llu" meaning "host" or "army" and "gwy(d)dden" meaning "leader" or "chief." The name can be traced back to the early medieval period in Wales.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Leulen" and "Leuuene." This suggests that the name had already gained some prominence in Wales by the late 11th century.
The surname is closely associated with the Principality of Gwynedd in northwest Wales, where several Welsh princes bore the name Llywelyn, including Llywelyn the Great (c. 1173-1240), who ruled over a large part of Wales and is considered one of the most influential Welsh rulers of the Middle Ages.
In the 13th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as "Llewelyn," "Llywelyn," and "Leuelyn," in various Welsh chronicles and legal documents. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (c. 1223-1282), the last prince of an independent Wales before its conquest by Edward I of England.
As the surname spread beyond Wales, it underwent further variations in spelling, including "Lewellin," "Lewellyn," and "Llewellyn." In the 16th century, the English playwright Thomas Dekker (c. 1572-1632) used the name "Lewellyn" in his play "The Honest Whore."
Other notable historical figures with the surname Lewellyn include Sir John Lewellyn (c. 1619-1675), a Welsh lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Long Parliament during the English Civil War, and David Lewellyn (1707-1786), a Welsh clergyman and writer who published several works on Welsh history and antiquities.
Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, we find the Welsh artist and engraver William Lewellyn (1811-1882), known for his engravings of Welsh landscapes and portraits, and the Welsh-American philosopher and educator John Dewey (1859-1952), whose full name was John Lewellyn Dewey.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lewellyn 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 34 Lewellyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.96x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Glamorgan | 34 | 16.96x |
| Surrey | 15 | 2.67x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 1.22x |
| Cornwall | 12 | 9.21x |
| Warwickshire | 12 | 4.13x |
| Cumberland | 7 | 7.06x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 1.34x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 1.77x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.29x |
| Pembrokeshire | 3 | 8.20x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 4.34x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.44x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.29x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.44x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 2.12x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.20x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.67x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paul in Cornwall leads with 9 Lewellyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 379.75x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lewellyn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lewellyn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Lewellyn surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Lewellyn a modern rank of #37,705.
A surname derived from the Welsh name Llywelyn, meaning "leading" or "prominent".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lewellyn 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.