NameCensus.

UK surname

Llewellyn

A Welsh surname derived from the given name Llywelyn, meaning "leader" or "lion-like."

In the 1881 census there were 4,378 people recorded with the Llewellyn surname, ranking it #1,023 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,074, ranked #819, up from #1,023 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil and Margam. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Monmouthshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Llewellyn is 8,190 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.4%.

1881 census count

4,378

Ranked #1,023

Modern count

8,074

2016, ranked #819

Peak year

2014

8,190 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Llewellyn had 4,378 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,023 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,074 in 2016, ranked #819.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,414 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Llewellyn surname distribution map

The map shows where the Llewellyn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Llewellyn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Llewellyn over time

The 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 1,704 #1,694
1861 historical 1,920 #1,516
1881 historical 4,378 #1,023
1891 historical 4,460 #1,059
1901 historical 5,611 #992
1911 historical 6,414 #800
1997 modern 7,545 #850
1998 modern 7,856 #853
1999 modern 7,926 #851
2000 modern 7,862 #852
2001 modern 7,722 #849
2002 modern 7,905 #849
2003 modern 7,727 #848
2004 modern 7,716 #844
2005 modern 7,659 #841
2006 modern 7,717 #831
2007 modern 7,730 #836
2008 modern 7,746 #839
2009 modern 7,958 #838
2010 modern 8,123 #839
2011 modern 8,075 #829
2012 modern 7,950 #824
2013 modern 8,089 #822
2014 modern 8,190 #819
2015 modern 8,136 #816
2016 modern 8,074 #819

Geography

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Where Llewellyns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil, Margam, Aberdare and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, Monmouthshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Caerphilly. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
3 Margam Glamorganshire
4 Aberdare Glamorganshire
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 004 Pembrokeshire
2 Monmouthshire 002 Monmouthshire
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 023 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Pembrokeshire 008 Pembrokeshire
5 Caerphilly 001 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Llewellyn

These lists show first names that appear often with the Llewellyn surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Llewellyn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Llewellyn, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Llewellyn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Llewellyn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Llewellyn is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Llewellyn is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Llewellyn falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Llewellyn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Llewellyn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Llewellyn

The surname Llewellyn has its origins in Wales, dating back to the 6th century. It is a Welsh name derived from the words "llyw" meaning leader and "llyn" meaning lake or pool, essentially translating to "leader by the lake".

The name was initially associated with the ancient British kingdom of Powys, located in eastern Wales. Historical records indicate that Llewellyn was a popular name among the ruling dynasties of this region during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest known references to the name Llewellyn can be found in the Welsh chronicle, Brut y Tywysogion (Chronicle of the Princes), which mentions Llewellyn ap Gruffydd (c. 1223-1282), a prominent Welsh ruler who led a revolt against the English and was briefly recognized as the Prince of Wales.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Llewellyn was David Llewellyn (c. 1292-1349), a Welsh clergyman who served as the Bishop of St. Asaph from 1347 until his death. His name appears in various ecclesiastical records from the 14th century.

In the 15th century, the Llewellyn surname can be found in the records of Glamorgan, a historic county in southern Wales. One prominent individual from this area was Sir Morgan Llewellyn (c. 1440-1504), a Welsh soldier and landowner who fought in the Wars of the Roses.

The surname Llewellyn has also been associated with several place names in Wales, such as Llewellyn's Green in Monmouthshire and Llewellyn's Hall in Glamorgan. These place names likely originated from historical figures or landowners bearing the Llewellyn name.

Throughout history, the surname Llewellyn has been spelled in various ways, including Llywelyn, Llewelyn, and Llewellin, reflecting the evolution of the Welsh language and regional variations in pronunciation.

Other notable individuals with the surname Llewellyn include Sir Dillwyn Llewellyn (1826-1903), a Welsh industrialist and philanthropist, and William Llewellyn (1800-1875), a Welsh lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Cardiganshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Llewellyn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Llewellyn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Glamorgan leads with 1,992 Llewellyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.82x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 1,992 26.82x
Pembrokeshire 440 32.46x
Monmouthshire 325 10.54x
Carmarthenshire 237 13.18x
Middlesex 165 0.39x
Lancashire 145 0.29x
Staffordshire 144 1.00x
Warwickshire 103 0.96x
Herefordshire 102 5.83x
Gloucestershire 87 1.04x
Somerset 72 1.05x
Brecknockshire 71 8.32x
Durham 65 0.51x
Surrey 59 0.28x
Kent 43 0.30x
Shropshire 43 1.17x
Wiltshire 33 0.87x
Worcestershire 30 0.54x
Yorkshire 30 0.07x
Cardiganshire 19 1.83x
Devon 19 0.21x
Cheshire 18 0.19x
Hampshire 15 0.17x
Sussex 14 0.19x
Essex 12 0.14x
Cumberland 8 0.22x
Northumberland 8 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.14x
Suffolk 8 0.15x
Berkshire 6 0.19x
Cornwall 6 0.12x
Dorset 6 0.21x
Hertfordshire 6 0.20x
Radnorshire 6 1.74x
Derbyshire 5 0.07x
Lincolnshire 5 0.07x
Leicestershire 4 0.08x
Isle of Man 3 0.38x
Bedfordshire 2 0.09x
Royal Navy 2 0.39x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.04x
Denbighshire 1 0.06x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.11x
Flintshire 1 0.09x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.10x
Norfolk 1 0.02x
Oxfordshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ystradyfodwg in Glamorgan leads with 212 Llewellyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.54x.

Place Total Index
Ystradyfodwg 212 32.54x
Merthyr Tydfil 111 15.55x
Aberdare 110 21.57x
Eglwysilan 103 79.92x
Llanwonno 94 35.22x
Whitchurch 74 184.22x
Llantwit Vairdre 72 86.25x
Llantrisant 65 34.72x
Cardiff St John 63 25.97x
Margam 60 72.43x
Ross 57 81.92x
Coyty Lower 53 109.91x
Aston 52 1.76x
Carmarthen St Peter 52 33.84x
Llantwit Lower 52 79.64x
Bedwellty 50 9.18x
Neath 46 30.44x
Swansea Town 45 7.39x
Llandebie 44 84.39x
Llanelly 44 10.87x
Gelligaer 43 25.35x
Cwmdu 42 46.41x
Llanstadwell 40 90.29x
Llandaff 38 15.38x
Roath 38 11.26x
Briton Ferry 37 41.75x
Cardiff St Mary 37 9.04x
Oystermouth 36 62.64x
Aberavon 35 51.21x
Burslem 35 8.49x
Aberystruth 34 12.51x
Birmingham 33 0.92x
Clase 33 11.95x
Swindon 33 11.28x
Pembroke St Mary 32 18.33x
St Woollos 32 9.30x
Stockton On Tees 31 5.07x
Llansamlet Higher 29 52.34x
Llansamlet Lower 29 43.13x
Walsall Foreign 28 3.76x
Llangan St Mary Hill 27 498.16x
Michaelstone Super Avon 27 33.58x
Kensington London 26 1.10x
Newcastle Higher 25 49.56x
Lambeth 24 0.65x
Newton Nottage 24 117.76x
Tythegston Higher 23 102.00x
Llandewy Velfrey 22 250.28x
Llandilo Fawr 21 26.20x
Llandissilio 20 134.05x
Llangeinor 20 45.74x
Mynyddyslwyn 20 16.44x
Radyr 20 263.85x
Bedminster 19 2.94x
Bletherston 19 533.71x
Christchurch 19 19.92x
Bettws 18 70.29x
Newcastle Lower 18 116.05x
Rogerstone 18 94.69x
St Dogmells 18 49.97x
Abergavenny 17 14.72x
Cowbridge 17 94.87x
Llanelly 17 16.66x
St Brides Major 17 171.20x
St Davids 17 55.41x
St Pancras London 17 0.50x
Liverpool 16 0.52x
Llanguick 16 12.02x
Llangwm 16 125.39x
Llandyfodwg 15 35.62x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 15 25.51x
Panteg 15 30.88x
St Luke London 15 2.19x
Ystradvelltey 15 175.23x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 14 2.55x
Penarth 14 19.29x
Trevethin 14 4.81x
Llanvihangel Pontymoile 13 238.53x
Toxteth Park 13 0.76x
Warrington 13 2.17x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Llewellyn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 401
Elizabeth 192
Sarah 129
Ann 112
Margaret 100
Jane 93
Catherine 67
Martha 57
Hannah 50
Annie 49
Eliza 43
Anne 40
Emma 32
Maria 28
Ellen 26
Edith 24
Emily 24
Alice 22
Esther 22
Rachel 21
Florence 18
Harriet 17
Margret 15
Louisa 14
Ada 12
Caroline 12
Kate 12
Frances 11
Agnes 10
Elizth. 10
Gwenllian 10
Charlotte 9
Fanny 9
Lizzie 9
Rose 9
Ruth 9
Susan 9
Amy 8
Jennet 8
Matilda 8
Amelia 7
Eleanor 7
Rebecca 7
Sophia 7
Cecilia 6
Gertrude 6
Lucy 6
Margt. 6
Minnie 6
Phebe 6

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Llewellyn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Thomas 303
William 270
John 262
David 183
James 90
George 83
Evan 68
Henry 52
Charles 42
Joseph 36
Llewellyn 33
Richard 33
Benjamin 31
Edward 30
Samuel 29
Alfred 27
Arthur 26
Morgan 26
Daniel 25
Rees 23
Wm. 21
Thos. 19
Edwin 17
Lewis 17
Albert 12
Phillip 12
Edmund 11
Herbert 11
Frederick 10
Jenkin 10
Robert 10
Walter 10
Ernest 9
Griffith 9
Hopkin 8
Philip 8
Francis 7
Frank 7
Ivor 7
Harry 6
Howell 6
Morris 6
Chas. 5
Gwilym 5
Isaac 5
Jno. 5
Levi 5
Owen 5
Tom 5
Moses 4

FAQ

Llewellyn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Llewellyn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,378 people were recorded with the Llewellyn surname. That placed it at #1,023 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Llewellyn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,074 in 2016. That gives Llewellyn a modern rank of #819.

What does the Llewellyn surname mean?

A Welsh surname derived from the given name Llywelyn, meaning "leader" or "lion-like."

What does the Llewellyn map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Llewellyn bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.